As Court Denies Motions to Stop Furlough:

Hawaii public school parents who filed charges against the State of Hawaii over furlough, remained firm on their legal battle to reinstate instructional days.

As Ninth Circuit Court Judge A. Wallace Tashima denied the motions that would put Furlough Fridays on hold, public school parents expressed their firm determination to push through with the lawsuits notwithstanding results of today's hearing.

Judge Tashima vehemently stated that despite "irreparable harm" that Furlough Fridays might have on the students; the move is simply just an administrative recourse for the State of Hawaii to run public schools and that it has nothing to do with the handicapped children as sighted in two lawsuits (out of three) that were filed against Furlough.

Despite today's set back, Eric Seitz, counsel for one group of plaintiffs said that the case isn't over yet.

"We still have a case. It hasn't been dismissed. What we want is remedy, we want the school open," Seitz said.

One public school parent who requested anonymity said, "It is definitely not over yet and there's no turning back. We'll hammer it out!'

Real Score of HSTA on Furlough now surfaces!

Furlough Fridays among Hawaii public schools triggered negative reactions among parents, not just within the State but, nationwide.

Even U.S. Secretary of the Department of Education, Arne Duncan threw criticism and have sighted that 170,000 public students, including close to 20,000 of them, enrolled on special education will be greatly affected by furlough.

Teachers are also beginning to talk now of their real sentiment over less instructional days.

In an exclusive interview with one of them, source stressed that there's really a better way of implementing Furlough.

State Teachers annually has training days for their continuing education. They (teachers) are willing to sacrifice those days instead of dragging the kids into the picture of struggling with the economy.

A group of Elementary, Middle and High School teachers gather themselves last Saturday and had a forum; to share ideas on how to cover core subjects when their students are away from the classroom.

Several substantial ideas came up; one is to give students take-home packets during furlough weeks, another one is by way of adjusting their classroom schedules to fit in more instructional time and some other more.

What is good behind today's loss over the injunction is the ever strengthening determination of the parents to fight for their children's educational welfare and the other is that the teachers now have come to their sense to make some sacrifices.

Bottom Line:

I am extremely delighted with how far the crusade to reinstate instructional days has gone through.

It's now in court, reaction is nationwide and that the U.S. Department of Education is now in the picture, not to mention the Hawaii State House of Representative.

My point on school furlough is so simple.

Everyone knows that our State is struggling but, why would we allow only one or two sectors in our community, suffer the consequences of our financial constraints?

And, why do we have to drag the kids here?

Why they should suffer first among all?

And, why it should be their education?

Every minute, by the hour means so much in molding the individuality of our kids. We don't know what could arise and transpire on those days that they won't be in school; what they might end up doing instead of them being in class and learning.

If increasing any of our State Tax, or the General Excise Tax is the only option, why not? At least everyone takes the responsibility and has a fair share of the burden; not just the government employees, the state teachers, nor would the kids only suffer from these critical times.

Now that the issue is already a case, what matters is bringing the best and most sounding argument to win the legal battle.

With this, my fervent hope and prayer goes to the plaintiffs' side; for them to achieve justice that every Hawaii child deserves!

And may God bless our fight!