This is not surprising, given that academics are an afterthought to those funding our public schools. Countless times on the State Senate Floor this year, the Education Chair honored winning sports teams, but never once this year do I recall similar laurels going to a math team, science bowl team, lauded poet or standardized test champ. Last year the Senate did recognize Hawaii's *one* perfect ACT scorer (outside private schools) -- but even that ceremony took the impetus of a certain minority staffer.  If community leaders would more consistently hold up academic success as something honorable, perhaps Hawaii's students would be more motivated to excel on the desk like they do on the field.