HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0952.016 2006-2008
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Murashige, Laura _
From: Manuel_Jadulang/H0N0KAHI/HIDOE@notes.k12.hi.us
Sent: Tuesday, February 05, 2008 8:43 PM FEB 6 R1~ 7 29
To: counciltestimony@co.hawaii.hi.us 1yLo,
Cc: kapilago@co.hawaii.hi.us; dyagong@co.hawaii.hi.us GCIV'~ ; t {;`NNAI)
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Subject: testimony for
Dear Hawaii County Council Members
My name is Manuel Jadulang, current agriculture teacher at Honokaa High and Intermediate School. I have been a teacher
for 8 eight years and 6 of them spent at Kealakehe High School in Kona, I recently transferred to Honokaa in July of 2007.
I am writing in regards to Resolution 506-08 School Garden Project asking for your support in funding for this endeavor. As
a high school teacher, 1 see the importance to provide meaningful experiential learning opportunities for students in this day
age of technology. Students need to appreciate the importance of being self reliant, have good character, appreciation of
where food comes from. It is also the hope, these kind of experiential learning will open doors for our keiki to have jobs in
the field of agriculture or any job they choose but be successful in what they do.
As a teacher, I have seen many students not appreciate where food comes. As they take my class, during the course of the
year, I see the students learn to appreciate food. In our state that is heavily in tourism, we need to create interest in our keiki
that diversified agriculture (aquaculture, tropical/native plants, bio-technology, hydroponics, etc) is needed to support our
economy and livelihood.
With the DOE's new weighted school formula funding as well with America's No child Left Behind Act, priorities providing
unique learning opportunities such as gardening for grade schools or agricuture in the high schools have fallen on the
wayside to support meeting school's need to pass the AYP benchmarks.
I humbly ask the council to assist schools on the Hawaii Island to provide funding so current programs can continue to exist
from Kindergarten to high school
Aloha
Manuel Jadulang
Honokaa High and Int. Ag Teacher
Comm. Ho. 95- 2. A
Ref. To: Zk~
\ Ref. Date FEB n s_
2/6/2008