Maya Soetoro-Ng stated that education reform is essential. “There is no reason to feel despondent… but we should definitely feel determined.”From the controversial No Child Left Behind Act to the “dropout crisis” plaguing schools across the nation, there are escalating concerns regarding the quality of education throughout the United States. As parents grow increasingly anxious and hardworking teachers experience frustration, a great deal of attention and scrutiny have shifted to the presidential candidates’ educational platforms—and with the Nov. 4 General Election looming on the horizon, many want to know who is truly at the head of the class.
On Saturday, Sept. 26, dozens of residents arrived at Kihei Charter School auditorium to hear Maya Soetoro-Ng, Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama’s half-sister, share her thoughts concerning education reform in Maui County, the State of Hawai‘i and the Mainland.
With sound bites from the previous evening’s presidential debate ringing in their ears, residents of all ages gathered in the auditorium flashing bright smiles and chatting animatedly with friends and neighbors. Many wore shiny campaign buttons and colorful T-shirts in support of Sen. Obama, while others could barely contain their excitement in the moments before Soetoro-Ng took the stage.
As she introduced Soetoro-Ng, State Sen. Roz Baker, a former teacher, reminded the audience, “Education is the great equalizer in our society.”
Soetoro-Ng is certainly no stranger to the classroom. A high school U.S. history teacher with a Ph.D. in Education from the University of Hawai‘i, the O‘ahu native has dedicated most of her life to shaping, enhancing and inspiring generations of young minds.
At Saturday’s presentation, she captured the interest of another group of pupils with her endearing charm—but in this case, the final exam was a call to action to improve Maui’s schools.
Education reform is essential, she said, particularly the restructuring of an incentive system for teachers, such as encouraging teacher-to-teacher mentorships and crediting teachers for developing “meaningful and powerful” curricula.
Although she acknowledged the faltering state of many public school systems across the nation, Soetoro-Ng encouraged audience members to be proactive—and positive. “There is no reason to feel despondent… but we should definitely feel determined.”
Applauding the students, parents, teachers and administrators of Kihei Charter School, Soetoro-Ng said that the school served as a model for “filling a critical need.” Charter schools are an example, she said, “Of giving our children something beautiful and special.”
She recalled her experiences in New York City as a newly hired teacher. Arriving in the Big Apple with a suitcase full of idealistic expectations, Soetoro-Ng said she encountered a torrent of difficulties and “cried for at least an hour each week.”
“It was a struggle,” she said, recounting a barrage of obstacles, such as scrambling to supply her students with books, pencils, lunches—even toilet paper. But, despite the hardships, she never gave up and today she is an outspoken advocate in the movement to improve the nation’s school systems.
And it appears that the passion for education is firmly rooted in the family tree. Sen. Obama has earned a reputation as a leader in educational issues throughout his career, beginning in the Illinois State Senate, where he helped create the Illinois Early Learning Council. Arriving in Washington as a junior senator, he pledged to make college more affordable for students, co-sponsoring a bill to increase the amount of Pell Grant awards and working to expand the Higher Education Act and teacher residency programs. According to Soetoro-Ng, her brother witnessed her struggles as a teacher firsthand; an experience that no doubt played a role in his vigorous crusade to reform education throughout the country. So it should come as no surprise that Soetoro-Ng’s ideas are in alignment with her brother’s.
“I did not write his educational platform,” she said with a smile. “But when I saw it for the first time, I felt it was something I could have written myself.”
She described Sen. Obama’s educational platform as “thoughtful, considerate, inclusive and decisive,” emphasizing multifaceted elements including early childhood education initiatives, tuition compensation for teachers and a plan for “success in the middle,” targeting the often-overlooked intermediate level.
“Middle school is a crucial time,” she said. “His plan is designed to prevent kids from dropping out.”
Just a few hours later, Soetoro-Ng took the stage—appropriately—in the cafeteria of the Maui Waena Intermediate School to speak at a rally in support of her half-brother. Smiling vibrantly at the energized crowd of supporters, she offered a rare glimpse into the heart and soul of the presidential candidate—an insight that transcended far beyond the lenses of cable news cameras.
“In my darkest hour,” she said. “He was there for me.” The room fell silent as she recalled the words of her brother. “He told me, ‘I love you,’ and that I should never feel alone because he will always love me… and he loves you, too.”