Waianae Teaching (Honolulu: school district, living, money)

[PalmSpringsDan]

Aloha....

I read an old post about a girl who didn't end up taking a teaching job in Waianae due to the input of many on this forum....

I will be trying for a teaching job for next fall - white male, 29, 7 years teaching experience.....do you all recommend NOT doing that either??

I have a feeling they might offer a Waianae job or nothing at all....

SO i'll be down to 2 choices:

- teach Waianae
- bartend for money

Any suggestions????

[cynmkolohe]

Watch this clip:

Training Program Helps Teacher Recruits | KGMB9.com Honolulu Hawaii News | Said, Students, Help, Her, Were, She, Pucci, Knight, Waianae, Here

It may help you get a feel for what you might encounter if you choose to teach in Waianae. This is an individual decision. I've had friends moved from the mainland to teach there (private school though) and enjoyed it for a couple of years. But it is a situation that comes with challenges.

[taysantanamama]

I honestly think that any school district can use male teachers. I am sure as you have been told, Hawaii is very very different than the mainland, it seems Waianae gets a bad rap, because it may be very different than the rest of Oahu. Let me say I am not a teacher, I am still learning about life here, but I did go to school for education. When I still thought I wanted to be a teacher when I grew up, I wanted to teach on a Native American Reservation, and that in mind, I knew that it was very important to learn everything I could about Native American culture, history, and modern life living as a Native American, but above all know, that I am NOT Native American, and my opinions and experiences hold little creedence with them. So maybe that would be a good approach for you if you do decide to take a job in Waianae.

My personal experience, though, as a very white, very blonde Midwest girl, every experience I have had in Waianae and with people from Waianae has been, well, unremarkable, meaning no different than that I have had anywhere else on the island, but that is not to lessen anyone elses experiences they may have had.

I would actually encourage you to take the job, but be informed, flexible, and maybe even grow a thick skin at first. COMMAND respect as a teacher, but do not DEMAND respect as an "outsider". Again, I strongly feel that dedicated, strong, flexible, creative educators are needed, especially on my side of the island. Go for it.

Oh, and by the way, even if you do decide to take the job teaching, you might still have to bartend!