17 Furlough days

The Hawaii State Teachers Association just approved a contract and accepted 17 furlough days for the next 2 years (and 21 days for those teachers who are on a 12 month contract). I really think its sad when the economy is so bad that we have to start making budget cuts with education. Not ouly does this hurt the teachers of Hawaii, who are of course over worked and under paid, but it hurts the students and the parents. Where are the kids suppose to go on these furlough days and what are working parents suppose to do with the kids for 17 days out of the school year? I really wish that there was an alternative to the budget deficiets that every state is facing but is education really the first place that should be getting cut?