My co-author today is outgoing Board of Education student member Darren Ibara.

Darren has served on the BOE for the past two years, listening attentively, observing quietly, and then persuasively expressing valuable viewpoints uniquely shaped from his perspective as a student, and a consumer of public education. His recommendations have always been "on point."

I believe that the quality of public education is enhanced when we take the time to listen and learn from the students in our schools. As a leader among his peers, Darren's leadership on the board provided insights that helped shape educational policy for many thousands of students in our schools, thus validating a basic premise of democracy that all voices, young and old, are essential to the health of our society.

It is with pride and affection that I share the following interview with you with high hopes that you will appreciate and learn from Darren as much as I have.

Q: Do you feel that your school years in public education have prepared you for college and to become a productive citizen in a democratic society?

A: Yes, I do feel that public education has more than adequately prepared me for the future ahead of me. I believe that public education is equivalent to one provided by a private school. The only true difference is in the school's environment where the student body is representative of the real world. There has never been a time where I thought that a teacher was simply horrible. Maybe they were strict or gave a lot of assignments, but that was the result of being held up to high standards.

The opportunities that have been presented to me were priceless. Throughout my high school years I was involved in the State Student Council and the Secondary Student Conference. I was given the opportunity to learn about the legislative process as well as meet with legislators where I and other students were able to discuss some of the pressing issues that our peers have brought up. Being a recent graduate, reflecting upon everything I have accomplished, I feel that I am ready for college and the bright future ahead of me.

Q: What improvements would you like to see in public education?

A: Obviously no system is perfect, but there are only a few things that come to mind when it comes to improving our schools. As we move into a standards-based curriculum, the focus should be put on each individual student's learning abilities. In an ideal situation, I would like to see each student progress at their own pace. This would allow accelerated students to advance while allowing teachers to provide assistance to those who may need it. In line with standards-based education, a student who fails a class should be allowed to make up the specific portion of the class and not have to retake the entire class.

The repair and maintenance of facilities is another area that has been an ongoing challenge for years. We are fortunate to be in a time of economic stability with surplus money available. This is the ideal time for legislators to fund education adequately. I do believe that the environment that students are in plays a role in their education. For example, you can't expect an elementary school student in a hot classroom to learn at their full potential. Being in an environment that is comfortable will foster higher achievement in students.

Q: Being on the board for the past two years, what have you gained and what do you feel you've accomplished on behalf of the students you represent?

A: In my two years on the board, I have gained a multitude of knowledge and skills that will benefit me in the future. My view of our education system has greatly been altered as I have seen, firsthand, our educational process. The board has allowed me to explore different fields of study and has provided direction in what area of study I would like to pursue in the future.

I feel that my main accomplishment has been in giving voice to students. Throughout my term, many issues have come up where students felt that their concerns should be heard. I have expressed the students' voice in matters with Chapter 19 in the safety committee, to issues about the lack of summer school, to the recent graduation policy amendments. The student's voice is most important and I feel that I have made it known to everyone.

Q: Why do you see it necessary to have the student member gain voting rights?

A: As the student member, I am given the same expectations and responsibilities of a regular board member, yet I am left without a vote. The student member on the board is in a vital position that requires active participation. Oftentimes we see new ideas and think that they're great, but we need to always take into account who they're going to affect. The point of view from a student often differs from one of an adult and can bring focus to unforeseen issues.

Oftentimes it is criticized that the student member is not able to represent all 180,000-plus students. It's true, however, there is a student representation network set up to accomplish such a feat. Students can voice their concerns to their district student councils who then report them to the state council where I am able to bring them up to the board. Although I may not represent every single student, try to find any elected official who truly represents all of their constituents. I believe the system that students have set up is the most effective. Most importantly, students elect their representative. By giving the student member a vote, you are empowering the voices.

This commentary is part of a series of articles prepared by Voices of Educators, a nonprofit coalition designed to foster debate and public policy change within Hawai'i's public education system, in partnership with The Honolulu Advertiser. It appears in Focus on the first Sunday of the month.

Voices of Educators is composed of some of Hawai'i's top education experts, including: Liz Chun, executive director of Good Beginnings Alliance; Patricia Hamamoto, superintendent of the Department of Education; Donald B. Young of the College of Education, University of Hawai'i; Joan Lee Husted and Roger Takabayashi from the Hawaii State Teachers Association; Sharon Mahoe of the Hawai'i Teacher Standards Board; Alvin Nagasako of the Hawai'i Government Employees Association; and Robert Witt of the Hawai'i Association of Independent Schools. Visit their Web site at www.hawaii.edu/voice.