Government employees throughout Hawaii (and nationwide) have been taking pay cuts, fearing layoffs, and suffering from furlough fever. And in a recent article in the Honolulu Advertiser (“Furlough dates set for Hawaii public school teachers”), 17 furlough dates have been settled for public school teachers in Hawaii. We know what this means: parents will adjust their schedules and find day care for furlough days, teachers will tighten their personal budgets, and children will learn 17 days-less of information per year. Everyone needs to take a hit for the team.
But speaking of team…
Coconut wireless (aka the grape vine) has it that athletic directors may be exempt from these furlough dates, since many sports games take place on Fridays. While the trend of favoring athletes over scholars has taken over America and the world, should it really trickle down as far as our public school system? I don’t think so.
Perhaps a lesser discussed aspect of economics is the moral aspect, but I think it sends the wrong message to our keiki that when times get tough, your parents, teachers, community, and education take a back seat, but oh wait…football, that’s okay to continue. Why can’t Friday’s games be moved to Thursdays? Public schools don’t play private schools in most sports anyway, so there would be no time or date conflict. And haven’t you heard? Thursday is the new Friday.
Maybe I’m just a bitter musician who sat in the old recital auditorium while the track and gym got renovated every other year. But in all fairness, if everyone is taking one for the team, I see no loophole for athletes. Shoots den, we go.
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