Grandparents hold important positions as educators here in Hawai‘i as an increasing number of them pitch in to provide pertinent learning for their grandchildren not necessarily taught at school. Grandparents may not hold special degrees, but plenty of on-the-job experiences make them experts in keeping the family together and on the right track.
We talked with Pamela Lee and Sam Kim at Sylvan Learning Center, Kahala, who say they are seeing more grandparents enrolling their grandchildren in Sylvan programs to help them catch up, maintain their grades and get ahead in school.
Sylvan Learning programs offer support help to students in all areas, including reading, writing, math, homework help, study skills and test preparation. STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) programs have also been added to the many curriculum choices.
On national achievement tests, Hawai‘i public school students score below average in most categories, including language and STEM skills. Our state educators are trying to fix that, but in all likelihood, not before your grandchildren graduate from high school.
For 30 years, Sylvan Learning Center has provided generations of Honolulu students — all ages and grade levels — with supplemental education. This year, Sylvan is also providing free afterschool classes to about 400 children across the islands, which are administered by Boys and Girls Clubs and funded by a federal grant.
“Parents are really burdened with multiple jobs while maintaining a home that may house three or four generations,” said Kim. “Grandparents who grew up in Hawai‘i got an excellent public education, so they can see when their grandchildren need help. The easiest way to help is to supplement their schooling.”
Sylvan Learning tests students to identify missing skills. If a student feels confused by math, testing will show which math skills are lacking and close the gap by helping the student master them. Filling in these gaps and catching up gives the child confidence to tackle math homework, and learning becomes fun again.
“Supporting your grandchild’s education is the best way to stay involved,” said Lee. “Students with family members supporting and encouraging them at home just do better in school overall.
“Grandparents bring us their mo‘opuna and we teach them exactly what they need to learn in order to succeed in school.”
Educators recommend that when the opportunity arises, seniors get involved in their grandchildren’s education.
It is a gift that will keep giving and an opportunity for you to know that you had a hand in your grandchildren’s future success.
SYLVAN LEARNING SYSTEMS
4211 Waialae Avenue, Ste. 30, Honolulu HI 96816
808-735-8811 | www.sylvanlearning.com/kahala
Persons with the will to endure and turn adversity to success inspire us. Meet Uncle Roberto Deuriarte from Maui. From his soft voice and amiable manner, you would never guess his story. He comes from a fine family in Mexico City. In second grade, polio nearly killed him. He missed two years of school and never regained feeling in his right leg. “I learned early that you can endure a lot more than you think you can,” Uncle said with a smile. In his teens, surgery to stimulate his bad leg was tortuously painful. “Running marathons is nothing, compared to that,” he said.
To build a stronger community, younger generations need to understand demographic changes, think critically about the aging and take action. Honolulu’s Age-Friendly City Initiative embraces an intergenerational approach to implementing programs and other supports for an aging population. A key first step is to reduce “ageism,” or negative attitudes toward aging that children may develop.
Ingredients
That’s how members of the 115-year-old Honolulu Lodge 616 of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks describe charitable work. Lodge members helped the community from the beginning, raising funds for charities through minstrel shows, baseball games, carnivals, circuses, dances, rodeos and boxing matches. From 1946, Ladies of the Elks, and after 1962, the Emblem Club, raised money with fashion shows, bingo and rummage sales.
From the 1930s, Elks funded lunchtime milk for schools. In the 1950s, Elks funding came from managing the Hula Bowl; “Termite Palace” football games featured milking competitions and Milk Queen contests. In 1951, Honolulu Rapid Transit and Art Rutledge’s striking Teamsters provided Hula Bowl busing. Members have also distributed Thanksgiving food baskets, children’s Christmas gifts, and hosted Kalihi Orphanage outings at Hanauma Bay and Christmas parties at children’s hospitals. They entertained students and teachers from Waimano and Diamond Head schools. A successful 1949 community toy-and-book drive filled donation barrels with Christmas gifts for children in hospitals and orphanages.
“Show me a university that is financially secure and I’ll show you its athletic foundation; show me a championship team and I’ll show you a student body academically driven by the same zeal of excellence.” — Gov. John A. Burns