The students, accompanied by science teacher Kimberly Vaillancourt and Pew Group’s Jay Nelson and Angelo Villagomez, chose the federal National Parks Service as the drop-off point of the letters from the students.
Many of the students’ letters, Vaillancourt said, touched upon their own personal experiences of hardship in their families. Many of them believe the marine monument can improve CNMI’s economy, she added.
In her own class, six students formed debate teams that tackled the economic, environmental and legal aspects of the monument proposal.
The students, Charlene Lizardo, Kevin Guinto, John Paul Aglubat, Christiane Baguiano, Alleue Evallar and Kimberly Ada, recorded their debate for KSPN News.
Vaillancourt said the students are now looking into possibility of holding more debates on other community issues.
“Out of this experience, I think they now have a better grasp of their role in society and taking responsibility for their own education,” Vaillancourt said.
