This morning was the May Day Celebration at my son's school. It was just one of the best shows ever. We have a very small school. I think about 300 students, maybe more. I understand when moving one of the most important things is making sure there is a good school system, but you can't always judge a book by the first couple pages. Sometimes you have to delve into it some before it starts to get good ... like Stephen King ... always a great story but very difficult for me to get into for the first few chapters. Before I moved to Hawaii I heard HORROR stories about our schools. NONE true. I do not care that the "test scores" are below average ... I DO NOT CARE. With the no child left behind act they are pooling all the kids and all the test scores together ... it's just not fair to the schools or the teachers. We have children here from all over the world, we have an extemely diverse group of people who all make this their home. I believe it's my job to make sure my son is getting the education he deserves and I require. I am right on top of that and participate as a parent to help ensure he grows and learns as he should. My son is top in his class and has had a wonderful year in first grade. He is getting a top notch education provided by some of the most loving and caring people I have ever met. And, his education includes something he cannot get anywhere else ... Aloha.
I did get some video of the show and plan on posting soon.
Horton's Lawn Care L.L.C. - Burton, MI
Patrick- Good schools are very important. Also you are right about the test scores. When I was in school alot of kids would skip school, or just goof off when it came to taking the M.E.A.P. (standardized state test to see how schools are doing). And eventhough the test scores were fairly low, it is still considered a good school district and values have held somewhat steady comparable to the unfavorable school districts.
May 02, 2008 03:42 PM
ALLY Real Estate - Waikoloa, HI
Hawaii Real Estate Expert
Chris, I think that there are probably very few places that DON'T have some sort of problem. Thanks for looking and have a happy and wonderful weekend.
May 02, 2008 03:58 PM
eXp Realty - Hollister, MO
Missouri REALTOR, (808) 384-5645
I feel the test scores are important. They tell a lot of things, like are they improving. Also if a child is not keeping up, the tests let the parents and others know where they need help.
May 03, 2008 09:50 PM
ALLY Real Estate - Waikoloa, HI
Hawaii Real Estate Expert
Right Randy, the kids need to be treated as individuals and tests should be about the individual child and how well they score. But, the Standarized tests required by the government they pool all the scores and give an average. The school then gets graded and I believe that some funding rules apply ... if the scores are not there they take away monies ... that's not right.
May 04, 2008 01:51 PM
Horton's Lawn Care L.L.C. - Burton, MI
Patrick- Here in MI state funding is regulated by attendance on "Student count day" not test scores. Kids who "pass" all sections of the M.E.A.P. used to get a $2500 scholorship but I believe they took that away since I graduated in '02. Here alot of the "good school" "bad school" is related to sports, and area as far as crime rates and gang violence in the schools, rather than test scores.
May 06, 2008 02:05 PM
ALLY Real Estate - Waikoloa, HI
Hawaii Real Estate Expert
Thanks for your input Chris. I am not sure if we have too much to worry about as far as gangs, but who knows what the future holds.
May 06, 2008 03:07 PM
Horton's Lawn Care L.L.C. - Burton, MI
Yeah Hawaii and Flint, MI are two completely different places, but here we do have to worry about them unfortunately. I hope you guys do not ever have to worry about those kinds of things Hawaii is an extremely beautiful place with amazingly friendly awesome people. Definitly to amazing of a place to have it ruined by people that do not deserve to see its beauty. I can't wait to get back there :-D
May 07, 2008 01:18 PM
Rainer
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Patrick Lambert
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