HSTA, educators rally for public education

LIHUE — Anyone who supports public education is welcome to stand with Kauai educators and the Kauai Chapter of the Hawaii State Teachers Association to show their support and concern about the future of public and public charter schools for the island’s keiki.

The Kauai Chapter of the Hawaii State Teachers Association, an affiliate of the National Education Association, will host a sign-waving rally on March 4 from 4 to 5 p.m. at the Lihue Airport intersection.

“We are demanding that our lawmakers, especially at the national level, fully fund public education,” said Kauai HSTA representative Sarah Tochiki, a music instructor and conductor. “We must protect our keiki, educators, and schools from the impending harmful decisions that will negatively impact our schools.”

According to the HSTA, the federal government provides Hawaii with $8 billion in funds. Some of these funds go to our public schools to pay for special education, lunch for our most vulnerable students, and support for our unhoused and migrant students. Without a federal Department of Education to oversee these vital programs, our schools and keiki in Hawaii will suffer.

“Education has been perpetually underfunded,” the HSTA said. “Teachers and educators are chronically underpaid. Yet, the entire future of our society rests on quality public schools for all Keiki. We cannot afford to jeopardize our future with rash decisions that do not plan for our future. If we want quality employees, we need quality schools to prepare them for the workforce. We must invest in our schools if we want the next generation of artists, plumbers, welders, musicians, scientists, nurses, doctors, mechanics, engineers, and much more.”