Ka Leo Alakaʻi O Waikīkī
Under the Protection of Diamond Head
September's Habit of the Month - Questioning and Problem Posing
The following excerpt comes from "Teaching for Intelligent Behavior: An Awareness Workshop" presented by Dr. Art Costa.
One of the distinguishing characteristics between humans and other forms of life is our inclination and ability to FIND problems to solve. Yet students depend on others to solve problems, to find answers, and to ask questions for them. They sometimes are reluctant to ask questions for fear of displaying ignorance.
Over time, we want to observe a shift from the teacher asking questions and posing problems toward the students asking questions and finding problems for themselves. Furthermore, the types of questions students aks should change and become more specific and profound. For example: requests for data to support others' conclusions and assumptions -- such questions as, "What evidence do you have....?" or "How do you know that's true?" will increasingly be heard. Will will hear them pose more hypothetical problems characterized by "iffy" -type questions: "What do you think would happen IF...?" or "IF that is true, then what might happen if...?"
We want students to be alert to and recognize discrepancies and phenomena in their environment and to inquire into their causes: "Why do cats purr?" "How high can birds fly?" "Why does the hair on my head grow so fast, but the hair on my arms and legs grows so slowly?" "What would happen if we put the saltwater fish in a fresh water aquarium?" "What are some alternative solutions to international conflicts other than wars?"
p4c's Role in Fostering Questioning
p4c directly addresses the shift Costa describes, where students become the ones asking questions rather than just the teacher. In a p4c session, a classroom becomes a community of inquiry where students sit in a circle to discuss a philosophical stimulus, like a short story, a poem, or a piece of art. The teacher's role isn't to lecture but to facilitate, guiding students to generate and explore their own questions. This creates a safe space where students aren't afraid to "display ignorance" because all questions are valued and seen as part of the collaborative inquiry process.
Developing Profound Questions
p4c encourages students to ask the more profound, "iffy" and evidence-based questions Costa advocates for. Instead of just "What happened in the story?", students are prompted to ask deeper, more complex questions, such as:
"What is 'fairness'?" (A conceptual question)
"Is it ever right to lie?" (An ethical question)
"How do you know that's true?" (An evidence-based question)
This process trains students to move beyond surface-level queries and to think critically about the assumptions, evidence, and underlying concepts that shape their understanding. They learn to probe for the "why" and "how," much like a philosopher would.
2025 Federal Impact Aid Program Survey - Beginning September 3, 2025
The Federal Impact Aid Program Survey is designed to assist school districts who have lost revenue due to federal properties' exemption from local property taxes. The amount of federal money received is determined by calculating the concentration of students who reside on military bases, low-rent housing properties, and other federal properties, have parents in the uniformed services, or have parents employed on eligible federal properties. In Hawaii, Federal Impact Aid helps offset costs for school materials and resources, substitute teachers, student transportation, and other services at schools statewide. All students and schools benefit from Impact Aid. In the 2023-24 school year, Hawaii public schools benefited from more than $53.34 million in Federal Impact Aid. We need your support to secure this important funding.
Survey cards go home on Wednesday, September 3, 2025. Please be sure to complete and return them back to school. Waikīkī School strives for a 100% return rate every year. Mahalo for your cooperation.
Please take the time to read our 2025-26 Parent Handbook located at our Parent Handbook Link
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Email: ryan@waikikischool.org
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