Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 18, Number 5, 1 Mei 2001 — New standards for improving teacher quality [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

New standards for improving teacher quality

By Keiki Kawai'ae'a Editor's note: Keiki Kawai'ae'a is programs director of the Hale Kuamo 'o Hawaiian Language Center. and director of Kahuawaiola Hawaiian Medium Teacher Education program at Ka Haka 'Ula O Ka 'elikōlani Hawaiian Language College at the University of Hawai 'i at Hilo. This monthly education eolumn is coordinated by Dr. David Kekaulike Sing , director of Nā Pua No 'eau. New teacher standards for the Hawaiian Language, Hawaiian Studies and Hawaiian Language Immersion licenses have been developed and were

recently presented at the Native Hawaiian Education Association Convention held Maieh 30-31 at Kapi'olani Community College. Participants were asked to provide final input on the new teacher standards that have been recommended to the Hawai'i Department of Education.

The Hawaiian content area licenses are the newest addition to the teacher license pool. The Hawaiian Language and Hawaiian Studies licenses are used in secondary settings while the Hawaiian Language Immersion license is K12. The Native Hawaiian Education Council, teacher preparation programs of the University of Hawai'i at Mānoa and Hilo, the 'Aha Kauleo Kaiapuni Hawai'i-Hawaiian Language

Immersion Council, and the Hawai'i Department of Education have reviewed these standards. Currently, all licensed teachers within the Department of Education (DOE) and all teacher preparation programs must meet teacher standards established by the Hawai'i Teacher Standards Board. In addition, teacher education programs must prepare eaeh teacher candidate to meet the content standards of their licensure area. The DOE currently licenses teachers for some 34 specialized areas. Teacher licenses must be renewed every five years. All those applying for professional licensure must also pass a battery of national PRAXIS exams that

assess nngnsn prouciency īn areas such as reading, writing, mathematics, content knowledge and principals of learning and teaching. Although Hawaiian is an official state language, and the state constitution requires the state to promote the study of Hawaiian language,

culture and history in the public schools, there are no equivalent Hawaiian content area examinations required by the State. Content knowledge of Hawaiian history and culture is not reflected in the Social Studies PRAXIS examination. Hawaiian language proficiency is also not required for the Hawaiian language and Hawaiian language immersion license through examination as in other foreign languages such as

French, German and Spanish. Existing teacher standards are based on national and professional organization standards with the exception of the Hawaiian standards. These standards have been locally developed because they must respond to regional questions about teacher quality based on holistic Hawaiian perspectives and principles of education for Hawai'i. Hawaiian standards must also reflect the perpetuation of our language, culture and history through a solid vision of what students should know, experience, be able to do, and care about. Standards in any form should nurture the very center of our children's mauli (life force). As we move collectively toward educational improvement for teacher preparation and professional development, curriculum and school development, and student achievement, it is crucial that we consider and plan carefully for all the essential areas of a well-round-ed education for Hawai'i's children. Teacher standards should reflect both national and loeal needs that prepare all teachers to teach ehildren effectively in Hawai'i. The use of teacher examinations should be fair and equitable across all content and licensure areas. Hawaiian standards ean eontribute to current state standards for all teachers, not only for those in specialized areas. We need to review the current state standards to ensure that loeal standards are not trivialized as less important, but as

equally important as national standards. Only then will we truly perpetuate Hawai'i through education. PDF versions of the standards presented at the Native Hawaiian Education Association Convention are available on-line and may be downloaded from the Kualono website at: www. olelo. hawaii. edu/pdf/teach e r_standa rds/H a wnLangImm Teac herStds.pdf www.olelo.hawaii.edu/pdf/teach er_standards/HawnLangTeacherS tds.pdf www. olelo. hawaii. edu/pdf/teach er_standards/HawnStudiesTeache rStds.pdf ■

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Kawai'ae'a