HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 1841

             As Reported By House Committee On:

                          Education

Title:  An act relating to instruction in renewable natural resources as part of the common schools curriculum.

Brief Description:  Adding instruction in renewable natural resources as part of the common schools curriculum.

Sponsors:  Representatives Hansen, Chandler, Dorn and R. Meyers.

Brief History:

  Reported by House Committee on:

Education, March 2, 1993, DP.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

Majority Report:  Do pass.  Signed by 19 members:  Representatives Dorn, Chair; Cothern, Vice Chair; Brough, Ranking Minority Member; Thomas, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Brumsickle; Carlson; G. Cole; Eide; G. Fisher; Hansen; Holm; Jones; Karahalios; J. Kohl; Patterson; Pruitt; Roland; Stevens; and Vance.

Staff:  Shirley Leckman (786-7291).

Background:  There is a concern that school children are learning only the environmentalist perspective regarding renewable natural resources.  In order to present a balanced perspective, it is felt that public schools need to teach children about the renewable resources, such as timber, forestry, agriculture, aquaculture, fish and wildlife.

Summary of Bill:  Existing law is amended to include renewable natural resources as a subject on which instruction is to be given in the public schools.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  Because so many people live in cities and are removed from the resources, few have a real understanding of renewable natural resources.  Children must learn about the renewable natural resources in order to be able to assume their stewardship roles as adults.  The products of agriculture and animal husbandry rank third in the state - just behind Boeing.

The Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction already offers a balanced curriculum on natural resources; for example, Project Learning Tree.

Testimony Against:  None.

Witnesses:  Representative Hansen, sponsor; Terese Wells, Washington Agriculture and Forestry Education Foundation; and Susan Patrick, Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction.