Bill Text: HI HCR176 | 2011 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Board of Education; Hawaiian Language

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 9-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2011-03-17 - (H) Referred to EDN, HAW, FIN, referral sheet 40 [HCR176 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2011-HCR176-Introduced.html

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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.C.R. NO.	176
TWENTY-SIXTH LEGISLATURE, 2011
STATE OF HAWAII

HOUSE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

 

URGING THE BOARD OF EDUCATION TO INCLUDE, AS PART OF THE MINIMUM COURSE AND CREDIT REQUIREMENTS FOR PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION, a requirement THAT ALL PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS OBTAIN CREDIT FOR THE EQUIVALENT OF ONE YEAR OF INSTRUCTION IN HAWAIIAN LANGUAGE.

 

 

 

     WHEREAS, in the late 1800s, a law of the Republic of Hawaii required that the English language be used as the sole medium and basis for instruction in all public and private schools; and

 

     WHEREAS, in accordance with the English-only law, the Hawaiian language was strictly forbidden at school and students who spoke Hawaiian were punished; and

 

     WHEREAS, as a result of the suppression of the Hawaiian language, the opportunity to speak Hawaiian outside one's home diminished and the Hawaiian language neared extinction; and

 

     WHEREAS, efforts to revive the Hawaiian language began in the 1970s; and

 

     WHEREAS, after the 1978 constitutional convention, voters ratified several amendments to the state constitution relating to the Hawaiian language; and

 

     WHEREAS, article XV, section 4 of the Constitution of the State of Hawaii recognizes Hawaiian as one of two official languages of the State; and

 

     WHEREAS, article X, section 4 of the state constitution directs the State to promote the study of Hawaiian culture, history, and language, and requires that the State provide a Hawaiian education program in the public schools; and

 

     WHEREAS, the recognition and preservation of the Hawaiian language is important because the language is essential to the preservation and perpetuation of the Hawaiian culture; and

 

     WHEREAS, all public high school students should have the opportunity to learn the Hawaiian language; and

 

     WHEREAS, all public high school students in the State should be required to demonstrate some proficiency in Hawaiian language as a condition of graduation; now, therefore

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-sixth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2011, the Senate concurring, that the Board of Education is urged to include, as part of the minimum course and credit requirements for high school graduation, a requirement that all high school students obtain credit for the equivalent of one year of instruction in the Hawaiian language; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to each member of the Board of Education.

 

 

 

	OFFERED BY:	_____________________________

Report Title: 

Board of Education; Hawaiian Language