Bill Text: HI SR13 | 2012 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Education; Green Hawaii Projects

Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 7-1)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2012-02-15 - (S) Referred to EDU, WAM. [SR13 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2012-SR13-Introduced.html

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THE SENATE	S.R. NO.	13
TWENTY-SIXTH LEGISLATURE, 2012
STATE OF HAWAII

SENATE RESOLUTION

 

 

REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND BOARD OF EDUCATION TO INSTITUTE A GREEN HAWAII PROGRAM WITHIN THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM.

 

 

                WHEREAS, caring for the environment can give youth a sense of responsibility for those around them and for the good of the community overall; and

 

                WHEREAS, a heightened sense of one's civic duties promotes the greater well-being and spirit of cooperation in solving common problems and mutual undertakings within their community; and

 

     WHEREAS, one of the ways youth can learn civic awareness is through "green projects" which are tasks that promote malama ‘aina (caring for the land); and

 

     WHEREAS, these tasks are doable by children and youth alike to foster patience and delayed gratification that results in a sense of accomplishment when they see the fruits of their labor benefit their community; and

 

     WHEREAS, green projects teach other values such as preservation and wise stewardship of natural resources, which they will need as adults in order to manage or participate in decisions and actions concerning their civic duties; and

 

     WHEREAS, recycling plastic and aluminum containers cleans up the area for aesthetic improvement and provides a small source of income for other student projects and needs of the schools; and

 

     WHEREAS, grass and landscaping cuttings can be used as mulch to cover the lawn to reduce irrigation demands and return nutrients back to the soil on school property; and

 

     WHEREAS, vermi-composting provides a safer source of fertilizer for organic school gardens; and

 

     WHEREAS, xeriscape designs incorporating the use of native flora reduces irrigation demand and simultaneously conserves precious freshwater resources; and

 

     WHEREAS, organic gardening teaches children and youth that food comes out of the ground, introduces them to the vital agriculture industry as a career, and fosters a respect for agricultural endeavors; and

 

     WHEREAS, these projects in conservation and recycling can also serve to help alleviate school budgets by reducing, reusing, and conserving resources; raise funds for other student projects; and teach students about budgeting in a demonstrable way; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-sixth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2012, that the Department of Education and Board of Education are requested to establish a Green Hawaii program, requiring all public schools, including charter schools, to perform at least five "Green Hawaii" projects within each school year, beginning with the school year 2015-2016; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Superintendent of Education, Board of Education, and the Hawaii State Student Council.

 

 

 

	OFFERED BY:	_____________________________

Report Title: 

Education; Green Hawaii Projects