Aloha from Maui,

Have been thinking about what has been happening on the home front, when I came across an article, here on the island about teachers and contracts in The Maui News. This reminded me of the Kent School District and the whining the teachers were doing about needing more “my time” to prepare for classes. They said it wasn’t the money. Yeah right, like I really believe them?

The Hawaii public school teachers, here on Maui, ratified a two-year contract Tuesday that included 17 unpaid days off for teachers each year — furlough days that would close schools on certain Fridays and leave students without instruction, forcing some parents to arrange for child care. Yes, there were some who did not agree with the 17-day furlough, but they were in the minority: 81 percent of the 13,500 teachers voted for the “negative package.” They felt it was the best they were able to do.

The Hawaiian Islands are hard hit because of the economy, so the teachers were trying to make the best of it until things got better, in the near furture, they are hoping.

Pat Gee, Federal Way