1235 Ala Kapuna Street
Honolulu, HI, 96819
September 26, 2016

Department of Education
1390 Miller Street
Honolulu, HI 96813

1235 Ala Kapuna Street
Honolulu, HI, 96819
September 15, 2016

Department of Education
1390 Miller Street
Honolulu, HI 96813


Dear Hawaii’s Department of Education administration,

As a student, I am directly affected by the changes in which you make to the schooling system in Hawaii. The schools themselves definitely have a part in terms of how well they can educate their students, but the DOE is the centerpoint in which every school here must base their standards and curriculum around.

I’m thoroughly pleased with the standards that you set for students in Hawaii schools, as well as the accommodation that you have for every student. However, I question that claim, as a left-handed student. Over the course of my entire high school and middle school education, I’ve experienced having to use right-biased desks very frequently. It has been growing increasingly frustrating, as students such as myself who use them face a wide variety of the difficulties that come along with right-biased desks. When having to take notes, write, or perform really anything on the desk that requires use of specifically my left hand, my wrist must form into a “hook” due to right-biased arm rest. This “motion” requires me to twist my entire body in such a way that results in very poor and awkward posture. The shoulder and neck are especially victims of this, though, the back may also experience some pain if severe enough. Poor posture, when paired with an educational environment whose time is very limited, can definitely hinder left-handed individuals and their ability to perform well on tests or any written assignment that’s timed.

Speaking of tests, although I have never been accused of cheating on an exam or anything of the likes, I can definitely see that being a problem with left handed students using right-biased desks. The adjustment that left-handed students have to make in order to write can definitely seem as if they are turning to observe another student’s paper.

A proposal could be including left-handed desks in schools. However, the problem there is the fact that there aren’t many individuals who possess this trait, so it wouldn’t make sense to have desks that serve a small fraction of a school. Instead, non-biased desks or even simply tables and chairs would serve as a solution to the difficulties that left-handed students experience.

It’s a pleasure to have you folks at the DOE as the leaders of education in our state, but I find that this nonsensical aspect of the educational experience should be addressed in the future.

Sincerely,



Coby Shimabukuro-Sanchez

The Blind Gray Matter of Today’s Generations

    Generations all have some kind of unique quirk, issue, or event that is related to them. Today, that “quirk” is acceptance into society through the medium that is social media. The most recent generations (chronologically called the “Millennials” and “Generation Z”), were ones that have been raised in the new age of technology. With it, comes the ability to essentially transform, say, or do whatever they seek. But as revolutionary as it sounds, social media has already developed to a point where it cultivates envious mindsets. Although the concept of “acceptance into society” on social media can bring some positive aspects out of humanity (specifically it’s teen demographic), it’s detrimental to teens as it will often times cause a loss of self-esteem and motivation, obsessions over virtual “points” (likes, comments) and overall promotes an envious attitude, and will often times decrease a person’s authenticity.

    Social media acts as a double-edged sword. While being able to connect everything and everyone together, means that so many things are intensified. Everyone can see everything. Thus, even the “severity” of reactions are increased. When teens view posts of other individuals, they put their self-esteem at risk every time they check social media. If there is an absence of any feedback on a post on Instagram or a status update on Facebook, teens will especially feel ignored, resulting in a decrease in their self-worth. As Dr. Archibald and Sylvia Hart state in their book “The Digital Invasion” about how technology is shaping people around the world, social media can easily turn into an environment where “success to feel diminished and failures amplified.” (Plett). A loss in self-esteem and depression are often related to social media usage. Thus, this “snowball” can keep rolling and can lead to a whole onset of other negative emotions.

    However, this can take a different path; it can turn into a competition. Teens œcan obsess over virtual “points” and unreasonably catering to them; a “1-up”-ing type of environment. In a survey done by Pew Internet of 600 Facebook users, 30% of respondents described to have a negative emotional state after browsing due to having jealousy of others more lavish lifestyle in relation to them--a clear display of how life satisfaction decreases as envy for others increases (Lenhart). To solve this, teens will comply with and cater their profiles and accounts towards what’s performing best. According to the same survey done by the above organization, about 40% of teens felt pressured to preserve posts that will be popular and makes oneself appear good to others. This is measured in the amount of likes, the type of feedback, or even the rate at which they are getting them. Teens are sacrificing individuality and heeding to what they believe will get them “accepted”.

    Unfortunately, that sacrifice will in turn decreases the a teen’s authenticity--to fit the standard that they want to be accepted into. Most individuals, however, don’t necessarily realize that. As the book “Authenticity and How We Fake It” by Aaron Duplantier puts it: Someone who seems to have a life on the exterior through posting about it daily will appear authentic, but only to viewers (Duplantier 71). It’s no doubt that social media can do many amazing things. However, that includes being able to curate another version of oneself. According to Pew Internet (who in which has conducted quite a lot of polls on the subject matter), about ¾ of teens that use social media believe that there is indeed a divide between what their peers’ online and offline personality in terms of authenticity (Lenhart). Another poll says that half of teens see posts about events that another individual weren’t invited to, further sharpening the line between what’s true and what’s not. Their seeking to be accepted creates a contrast that arguably nothing other than social media has imposed upon teens of today.

    However, one cannot deny that the concept of acceptance on social media and the internet in general has provided both adolescents and adults with new capabilities; the main benefit being that it allows people of shared interests to connect and interact with each other. In the professional environment, it can serve very well for teens in their future. As journalist Kelsey DeGideo points out on her article titled “Social Media: New Form of Acceptance?”, “Self promotion is something that is essentially required in this time for young people who are graduating and entering the workforce” (DeGideo). She personally has been asked by employers provide social media accounts for her employers to check through so that they get an idea of what DiGideo would be aside from how they would typically do before social media. Reach Out, an organization designated to help the mental health of young people, describes it as a way of “delivering educational outcomes; facilitating supportive relationships; identity formation; and, promoting a sense of belonging and self-esteem” (ReachOut). In some cases, the above is true in it’s ability to potentially develop the minds of teens.

    Yet, given its potential benefits, the concept of being “accepted” on social media is much more easily capable of being a detriment to teens rather than a blessing. It can promote, breed, and enrich the connection between teens and their ability to thinking, working, and acting together, as well as potentially improve their ability to transition into the workforce. However, it has a lot of potential to cause teens to lose their self-esteem, become consumed over the pressure to have a certain amount of internet “points”, and lose their authenticity All not in the best interest of parents or teens (the latter of which may not realize what they are doing). Social media and the internet has only been around for an extremely small portion of humanity’s existence, so the sample size current analysis are being done on is still quite minimal. However, it’s effects thus far will likely permeate well into the current and future generations; both its benefits and detriments.