During these economic times, education comes down to the teachers. Everyone needs to accept that furlough days are necessary. The DOE is facing a $200 million budget reduction. With the alternative being layoffs, furloughs are the best option for student learning.

I agree that it's horrible that furloughs result in a 7.9 percent pay cut to already underpaid teachers, yet schools need to look at the students' best interests.

The school schedule with furloughs still meets required instruction hours, yet not all learning needs to occur during the day. It is even more important now that teachers emphasize and inspire learning outside of school. Educators must make the best of furloughs by allowing furlough days to be a way for students to explore applications of learning. Inspire students to use their time to look into helping the community, or furthering their interests in subjects that they like.

Teachers are the backbone of a good community and with their inspiration, students and teachers can use these changes to make the school system more successful than their expectations.

Cameron Dye | Grade 11, 'Iolani School