West side educational opportunities sorely needed
I graduated from a public high school. I am raising my child in the same system and I was foolishly hopeful of change. I understand the limits to public education, but I am appallingly frustrated by the absence of fall intermission programs in the West Hawaii communities. I’ve inquired. I’ve searched. And I am empty handed.
However, this is not a struggle for the entire County of Hawaii. East Hawaii hosts a majority of Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) opportunities. Advertised throughout their community. There is no geographical uniformity in educational enrichment for all of our children.
I was privileged to be apart of organizing the first ever Kona STEM Camp large sponsored by the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT). Ironically, this was held during the fall break. I gazed into the hundreds of starry eyes glistening with awe and inspiration. The hundreds of thousands of ideas destined to fill the infinity and beyond. TMT continues to support the KSC, but why stop at one public high school? I humbly ask, where are the STEM opportunities now in our west side communities?
Corporations willingly invested $1.4 billion dollars to glimpse into the past at the expense of our children’s future. What if TMT invested $1.4 billion dollars into all of our children’s education over the next decade? I envision a generation holding more knowledge than an 18-story structure ever could, rewriting the blueprints of inclusivity of all life, and preserving the world for their future generations.
I believe all of our children deserve the education to be relevant in the 21st-century world.
Taylor Quanan
Captain Cook
Oxy-, or oxish?
With continued denial of public access to Maunakea via public roadway, it is concluded the terms state and county government are oxymorons.
Richard Hoeflinger
Keaau
Letter to our leader
Dear Mayor Kim,
I would like to suggest that the name TMT be changed to a Hawaiian name selected and voted on by current discussion participants. Maybe set up committee for selection and then all vote on it.
Michael Griggs
Kona