STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1598

                                 Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                   , 1999

                                 RE: H.C.R. No. 18
                                     H.D. 1




Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say
Speaker, House of Representatives
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 1999
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Education, to which was referred H.C.R.
No. 18 entitled: 

     "HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION URGING THE BOARD OF EDUCATION
     TO CONSIDER REQUIRING MANDATORY FAMILY AND PARENTING CLASSES
     FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this concurrent resolution is to urge the
Board of Education to consider requiring family and parenting
classes for high school students.

     In light of the numerous reports of child abuse, your
Committee believes that parenting training should be expanded in
the public schools.  We live in a time when child rearing
practices are not handed down from generation to generation as
much as they were in the past.  Furthermore, there has been an
increase in single parent households, and economic conditions
require both parents in dual parent households to work.  These
socio-economic conditions create stress on families, which may
result in child abuse if parents are not properly trained.

     Family and parenting training classes are currently offered
in the public schools, but few students are taking advantage of
such classes.  Alternately, family and parenting training and
guidance can be incorporated as a component of other classes in
the high schools. This will allow more students to be exposed to
this important matter.


 
 
                                 STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1598
                                 Page 2

 
     The Hawaii State Teachers Association testified in support
of the intent of the concurrent resolution.  The Board of
Education testified in opposition to the concurrent resolution
because it will reduce the number of electives a student may
take.

     Your Committee amended this concurrent resolution by:
 
          (1)  Deleting the mandatory nature of the family and
               parenting classes;

          (2)  Adding that family and parenting training and
               guidance can be provided in separate elective
               classes or a component of other existing classes;

          (3)  Urging the Board of Education to expand family and
               parenting training and guidance;

          (4)  Revising the title to conform to changes in the
               body; and

          (5)  Making technical, nonsubstantive revisions for
               style and clarity.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Education that is attached to this report, your
Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 18,
as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to the
Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as H.C.R. No.
18, H.D. 1.

                                   Respectfully submitted on
                                   behalf of the members of the
                                   Committee on Education,



                                   ______________________________
                                   KEN ITO, Chair