education Archives

To Thine Own Self Be True

Back in elementary school I discovered that I loved the power of writing. A particular reader, I found it fascinating how I was able to transport myself into the plot of a fictional story or take on the emotional burden of a tragic news story or even salivate at the description of a tasty meal. I wanted this power, and I set my mind on harnessing it for my own. Read on...

Physics Geek

I'm sort of a physics geek - but not really a physicist and certainly not a scientist. I got into physics in college because of a love of nature. I wanted to learn how things worked at a basic level. Truthfully, I didn't even know what physics was. But my advisor said "you should try physics", and I said "uh, OK. What's physics?" He said "Don't worry, you'll love it." The rest, as they say, is history. Read on...

Out of the System

I've had it with the incompetant substitute. I've had it with the parents who can't teach their little monsters how to get along with others. I've had it with the bureaucracy and the rigidity and the uniformity. I'm home-schooling my kids. And before you tell me that home-schooled kids are freaks, I'm going to tell you: I know, but I'd rather raise a brilliant freak than a poorly-educated prom queen. I can count on one hand the number of things she'll miss out on by not going to school. Read on...

My Letter to the Honolulu Advertiser

I made a journal entry a few days ago mocking the UH logo design choices, and forwarded the URL around town. This got the attention of one of the Honolulu Advertiser reporters, who asked my opinion about the whole design review process. As a follow-up to Cheyne's entry about the power of design, I've decided to reprint my letter to the Honolulu Advertiser here. Fire away.

UH Logo - New or Improved?

After almost a year after the first upsetting design was submitted by a Maryland-based design firm (who got a very sweet $73K severance pay after the contract was cancelled), UH is at it again, determined to finish what it started. Read the press release here.

This time, they've selected three of Hawaii's best to take on the daunting challenge of a state-wide brand facelift. The three firms that were chosen are Graphic House of Honolulu, Clarence Lee Design & Associates, Inc. of Honolulu, and Sae Design of Maui.

DangerousEquations.com

Authors of ‘Dangerous Equations’ exposé on UH money crisis launch DangerousEquations.com Web site; Site includes extensive footnotes for original piece published July 6 in the Honolulu Star-Bulletin.

Public School Rankings

Thought this was worthy of mentioning here, especially since it's been awhile since I posted. The May 2003 issue of Honolulu Magazine has rated 256 public schools in Hawai`i based on surveys and Hawai`i DOE results.

The New UH Logo

The controversial Branding Project at the University of Hawaii is entering its final phase, with two proposed designs unveiled yesterday for the new, official university logo. Dubbed "Wave" and "Spectrum," they're the result of a yearlong, $82,000 process "to pursue a new, cohesive graphic identity for the UH system."

What do you think of the designs? UH wants to hear from you. So do I.

Support Adult Ed

A rally to support Adult Education will be held this Thursday, April 3, from 10:00am-11:30am at the Capitol Rotunda.

Governor Lingle's proposed budget cuts to the Adult Education program would essentially kill the program, limiting classes to a handful of courses open to a select few. This would make obtaining a GED, learning essential job skills (or new skills required for career advancement), and even obtaining US Citizenship much more difficult for many people.

Sprucing up UH-Manoa

Interesting article in today's Advertiser about efforts underway to improve the general environment at UH-Manoa.

But they've got one thing wrong. The fountain does work! It's a miracle, that thing has been dry for years and years, but finally started dribbling water recently. Helen vaguely recalled what might be an "urban legend" about someone drowning in it. They would have to have been totally smashed to do so because it's very shallow. It's not a very impressive fountain, either, even when working, but nice to see nonetheless.

I'm less impressed with the rather silly and ostentatious "gateway" "monuments" at the crosswalk by the Law Library, doubt it will improve much when it's finally finished. Nice that they restored the similar old "gateway" on University Avenue, though.

UH and their new Tobacco Policy

UH has unveiled their new smoking policy...

It is now not permitted to smoke at UH's breezeways, hallways, couryards, and outside restaurant areas. You also cannot smoke 50 feet around bustops. The reasoning is that innocent non-tobacco consumers should not be exposed to secon-hand smoke simply because they're attending the University.

Whose Smart? We Is!

A Kansas-based group recently gave its Smartest State Award for 2002 to Connecticut, ranking Hawaii a dismal 45th out of 50. Of course, these guys seem most interested in selling their state-ranking books. Then again, more credible outfits have also found the quality of our education lacking.

Rankings are funny things, though. Are we a healthy state? A safe state? Yes and no (see inside). So need we worry? Or is it "lies, damn lies, and statistics"?

We've Got No Class (and We've Got no Principles)

That does it. I'm tired of not knowing. I'm tired of stepping into the voting booth armed only with the endorsements of people who don't truly know. I'm tired of pretending I'm a responsible voter, when really I'm an ignorant pretender.

I'm declaring myself a Hawaii State Board of Education watchdog.