Help Needed...

Industry Talk
1

I’m trying to reach out to the public schools…

My hope is that the industrial arts teachers might want to make building a hollow board a class or individual project…

I explain it in the cover letter below:

Quote:

My name is Paul Jensen, a 51-year-old self-employed carpenter living in Washington State. In addition to my carpentry work, I have been building hollow wooden surfboards using my original design for five years. Examples of my boards can be found at www.hollowsurfboards.com . Please take a few minutes to check them out.

Now that you are back, you understand what I am doing, whether or not you surf. Building a board like these is something almost anyone can do. You might have noticed on my website, I offer a “How To Build A Hollow Surfboard” CD-ROM to those wanting to build their own.

Hundreds of people with varying levels of experience, from Jr. High students to septuagenarians, have followed the “How To” CD and built heirloom quality boards. Anyone who can follow instructions and has a bit of patience can build one, with patience being more important than tool skill.

A bit of background: while I was in High School in California, I struggled academically. I took Automotive Technology in my Senior year, four hours a day, all year and got straight A’s. At the end of the year, I knew I did not want to be a mechanic with my head under the hood, as a career, but the class taught me that I could work with my hands. Long story short, I have done pretty well working with my hands…

I realize what just one class can do to establish a healthy sense of identity and pride in a job well done. With that in mind, I wrote the “How To” mentioned above. My belief is this: kids struggling without direction can achieve a positive self-image and be stoked to come to class to build what might be the coolest thing possible in school. Through the process they will have epiphanies as well as setbacks, just like in life. By moving forward through the process, they can overcome self-doubt and find ways to get beyond the immediate challenge to get to the ultimate goal—self-discovery—even though they think it is all about the board. I have experienced it, seen it, and heard it dozens of times. It is as real as tomorrow’s sunrise.

If any of the above rings true and you can see the possibility of how a project like building a wood surfboard can make a difference in a young person’s life, please contact me as to how to get the “How To” CD.

The money details are simple: For each school the CD is $100. Use it as many times as you need within that school. Templates for boards are $50 each. The cost of materials for each board is about $25 per foot of length of board; thus an 8’ board costs about $200. An excellent value considering that I sell that same completed 8’ board for $2,400.

Thanks for your time.

Sincerely,

Paul Jensen -

With so many public schools, what is the best way to get my letter in front of those who can make it happen…???

Thanks in advance…

Paul

2

Aloha Paul

I don’t know how it works elsewhere but you need to find a champion the local school board and or with one of the heads in the Department of Education. Very few schools are autonomous unless it’s a charter school. It’s mostly politics like anything else publically funded.

Check out these folks:

http://www.roarockit.com

they were able to do something similar here on the big island with a private school developing a program to teach kids how to build vacuum formed multi-layered custom wood skateboards as an art project.

you might want to drop them a line and find out how they are doing it elsewhere…

Best of luck this is a really good and green idea (a timely crafts/trade proposal for the schools too)…

if you ever get started out here and need some local representative instructors we’d be more than happy to volunteer our services to learn your technique and then teach the kids here for you…

3

forwarded yo letta to a major player in local arts and education

on island…and throughout the state.

…ambrose…

4

Okay to get specific…

for the public education system here

The major contacts at the Board of Education here in the State of Hawaii would involve these two major commitees:

(just a heads up, we have alot of problems right now with our public education system so I don’t know what they would think of this)

Committees that would be involved

Special Programs:

(Special education, special services, Hawaiian language immersion; early childhood education; adult education, student activities)

Mary J. Cochran

Member

Maui District (exp. 2010)

Ms. Cochran was first elected to the Board of Education in November, 2002 and re-elected in November, 2006.

Board Office Phone: (808) 586-3343

Board Office Fax: (808) 586-3433

Email: Mary_Cochran@notes.k12.hi.us

Board Mailing Address: P.O. Box 2360, Honolulu, HI 96804

Chairperson: Committee on Special Programs

Member: Committees on Audit, Regular Education K12, Support Services, Public Libraries, Charter Schools, Budget & Fiscal Accountability

Darren Ibara

Student Member (exp. 6/2007)

Board Office Phone: (808) 586-3337

Board Office Fax: (808) 586-3433

Email: Darren_Ibara@notes.k12.hi.us

Board Mailing Address: P.O. Box 2360, Honolulu, HI 96804

Vice Chair: Committee on Special Programs

Member: Committees on Audit, Regular Education K-12, Support Services, Public Libraries, Charter Schools and Budget and Fiscal Accountability

or

Regular Education, K-12:

(Performance standards, assessment & accountability; guidance and counseling; career & technical education; Hawaiian Education)

Maggie Cox

Member

Kauai District (exp. 2008)

Ms. Cox was elected to the Board of Education in November, 2004.

Board Office Phone: (808) 586-3345

Board Office Fax: (808) 586-3433

Email: coxj024@hawaii.rr.com

Board Mailing Address: P.O. Box 2360, Honolulu, HI 96804

Chair: Committee on Regular Education K12

Member: Committees on Special Programs, Support Services, Public Libraries, Charter Schools, Budget and Fiscal Accountability, Collective Bargaining (Unit 05)

Dr. Eileen Clarke

Member

Central District (exp. 2010)

Dr. Clarke was elected to the Board of Education in November, 2006.

Board Office Phone: (808) 586-3342

Board Office Fax: (808) 586-3433

Email: Eileen_Clarke@notes.k12.hi.us

Board Mailing Address: P.O. Box 2360, Honolulu, HI 96804

Vice Chair: Committee on Regular Education, K12

Member: Committees on Budget and Fiscal Accountability, Charter Schools, Public Libraries, Support Services

As far as Charter Schools(Alternative Education) go

I would attempt to contact this school…

http://www.thompsonacademy.org/

Why?

Because Myron Thompson is Nainoa Thompson’s father…

Nainoa is chief Navigator of the Hokulea and a founding memmber of the Polynesian Voyaging Society and currently one of the Trustees of the multi-billion Bishop Estate who supports the running of The Kamehameha Schools.

Mr. Sharkbait(Harry) has two daughters going to Kamehameha right now and is very active with the school and was planning on doing something similar with the wood shop students on another project regarding a recently fallen tree so maybe if you can contact him he can go present your offer to the folks up on the hill at Kamehameha. I believe you two have been in contact with each other before.

I don’t know how your Ireland trip was setup, but if Harry can get you an opportunity to do something at my old alma mater, I’d be willing to do what I can to help get you over here to conduct the training. But the school could probably do it no problem too and they have been a major influence in helping out the public school system as well and at this point have three campuses across the state that could be utilized.

Just some ideas to ponder…

sorry if it’s more than you were looking for…

5

Paul, you might want to try Charles Wright Academy in Tacoma. Although its a ($$) prep school, its also got a full woodshop & industrial arts program. George Weyerhaeuser was one of the founders, along with my wife’s parents & other families back in the early '50’s.

If you’d like a name or an introduction, let me know. I think it would be a good fit.

Quote:

Through a well planned experiential outdoors program, the faculty aim to develop positive lifetime values and skills in our students. We want the students to gain an appreciation of themselves through the outdoors. It is also our intention that students will develop profound and rewarding relationships with classmates and faculty. We want to promote curiosity, observation, and understanding of natural systems, while encouraging an attitude of concern and informed awareness about the environment.

Quote:

The final two days before Spring Break are School Days where kids choose from a wide variety of activities have recently included things like:

         Archery

         Bottle Rockets

         Horseback Riding

         Knitting

         Day of Beauty

         Treasure Hunt

         Rock Climbing

         Ocean Beach Clean-up

         Pedal, Paddle (bike and sea kayak trip)

         River Rafting

         Lower School Assistant

         Trading Spaces (MS kids redecorate the faculty lounge)

         Experience Music Project trip

         Photography

         Drama Workshop

         Fly-Fishing

         And much more...</blockquote></div>

Ben

6

Hi Paul,

It’s probably better to try to work out a group session with a bunch of shop teachers and build a board. The same thing you did in Ireland. That way they’d get a hands on lesson, and not just a CD with all the instructions.

I’m trying to setup something with a local private school, but it’s more about making something from an endangered species of wood. The Wiliwili trees in Hawaii are being destroyed by a wasp, and they are being cut down every week. This wood is light like Balsa, but much stronger, and was used for canoes and surboards by royalty.

The school my family has attended for 5 generations is on Hawaiian land formerly owned by the Ruling Chiefs of Hawaii. It has quite a few of these trees and they are dying. The students are part hawaiian.

I want to take these logs and make surfboards or canoes with the wood shop at the school.

I still have a lot of work to do the setup any agreement with the teachers there.

7

Big problem with Hawaii’s public schools (grades 9-12). Many no longer offer industrial arts for an elective eg:wood shop,metal shop, automotive.

Funny, because I was just offered an industrial arts/science position at a local high school.

I have no professional background in woodworking (nor do I own a wood shop), nor do I have any teaching background (including no teaching certificate). Funny, a licensed pharmacists teaching wood shop…I almost took the position (just to escape the ever changing health systems)

Public schools in hawaii is really hurting…esp in industrial arts and special ed.

Keep in mind…public school teachers are paid very little, compared to other states. Contruction is booming and no contractor/wood smith would leave to teach an elective class.

8

Thanks to all for the advice…!!!..

I also got this via e-mail from someone doing something similar with skateboards…

Quote:

Our experience in reaching schools is similar to yours… it’s tough.

2 main issues, budget and teachers.

Most schools don’t have large funds for projects, if they do want to fund a special project, they usually have to jump through hoops. If they are able to collect the materials costs from the students, that makes it easier, but it usually ends up as a special project and not part of the curriculum.

By mentioning teachers, it’s not because I have any issue with them :wink: but that they have so much to deal with everyday, learning a new project, then becoming familiar enough to teach it, is a b ig leap. Our experience is that if they are passionate about the subject (such as surfing) you might find a teacher willing to champion the project. One

of the first posters on your swaylocks forum suggested this, and we agree.

Suggestions for you:

  • make contact with the person in the bureaucracy that combines projects with corporate funding

  • find an after school or “no child left behind” program to get involved with

  • teach the program yourself, or train apprentices

  • publicity - based on actual courses

Hope this helps, and good luck with it! Norah and Ted - www.roarockit.com

I really want to reach out and help the kids…

I will contact the Hawaii people next week, thanks for that contact info…

Also, I’m thinking of going right to the top of the food chain and contacting several of the large “surf corporations” (Billabong, Quiksiver, O’neill, Patagonia, etc…) and present to them an ‘outside the box’ sponsorship plan…

They pay surfers to surf, maybe they can see the upside to paying someone to reach into the real world and help kids learn about themselves and build an heirloom quality board…

I see it as a win-win…

I do have some serious lettter writing to do first…!!!..

Paul

9

Sad to say that it would be impossible to have have a class specific to board building(at least in CA) because the schools are not going to pump out $200 a kid for any reason. “The kids could buy the materials them selves” you say? CA law (maybe federal law too) says that public education is free, thus the state would have to pay for the projects for those who could not afford the wood. In advanced wood shop the loop hole is that the student has access to limited amounts of cheap wood, but they must buy their own wood for projects. So this would work only on an individual basis. On top of that, the average wood room is too small to have so many large projects. my shop teacher actually cleared out a storage garage behind the wood room that I used to build my 1st board. I think Charter schools would be the way to go, and community colleges too.

cheers

10

I work for the Department of Education and Training here in Wozzieland, I’ll check out some of my contacts for you Paul…