STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1703

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    H.C.R. No. 55

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Education, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 55 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION URGING THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO STUDY THE FEASIBILITY OF INTEGRATING PEACE EDUCATION INTO THE SCHOOL CURRICULUM,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to foster peaceful school environments by requesting a study on the feasibility of integrating peace education into the public school curriculum.

     Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by the Department of Education, the Pacific Buddhist Academy, Honoka‘a High School, and eight individuals.

     Your Committee finds that the world around us is fraught with violence and killing, be that in the form of the war in Iraq or in our own schools and neighborhoods, as in the case of the Columbine High School killings.  Your Committee further finds that, although Hawaii promotes the spirit of aloha, incidents of violence have managed to work their way into the fabric of our communities.  In order to foster peaceful school environments and communities, especially for our keiki, the State must actively address and promote a mindset of peace in our schools and communities.  Existing programs that are dedicated to reducing violence and promoting peace throughout the world should be examined and consulted with to ascertain the feasibility of incorporating similar education into the public schools.  Your Committee believes that the Department of Education can and should play a significant role in properly educating our keiki to become non-violent, peaceful adults by any appropriate means possible.

     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. 55, and recommends its adoption.

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

____________________________

NORMAN SAKAMOTO, Chair