Journey into the heart of Jungle
.
January 13, 2010 • Trent Nakamura
Filed under Features, Top Stories
Peering out of a gas mask filled with the residue of fumes from past training, Sgt. David C. Robert’s eyes burned. Standing in a line with his fellow National Guardsmen, he found himself in a standoff against rioters at UC-Berkeley.
The rioters began flinging bricks, golf balls with nails driven through them, and plastic bags filled with urine and feces. The Guardsmen moved forward in a march-step cadence towards the group. The group moved back, and the Guardsmen set up their perimeter.
Mr. Roberts has experienced both ends of the spectrum, in his work as a National Guardsman and as an art teacher at ’Iolani. In the National Guard, his day was planned for him. He wasn’t allowed to be an individual and his opinions had no value.
However, as an art teacher, he opens up creativity for students. He allows students to express themselves, and he is able to plan his own projects when he wants.
Mr. Roberts served in the National Guard in Northern California for six years during the Vietnam War. He worked for the 579th Engineering Battalion, a company of engineers who maintained rivers, streams, and forests and also protected the area from any type of threat.
At the time, he was also an art student at Humboldt State University. He soon graduated and was interviewed in 1975 by former ‘Iolani Headmaster David Koon for an art teacher position.
“When I first started, I was enamored with the idea that kids actually had talent,” Mr. Roberts said. “I found out pretty quickly that creativity is universal.”
Mr. Roberts has been teaching at ‘Iolani for 34 years. His students know him as “Jungle Bob” (Jungle for short), a nickname given to him in a summer class because of his wild beard. Jungle teaches more then just art in his classes; also shares his life stories with students, as well as plants the seeds of morals within them.
“It wouldn’t be fair to tell kids what they’re supposed to be point blank,” Jungle said. “What you want to do is put as many ideas out there in the garden as possible and let them figure out what part of that garden they want to cultivate.”
“I think that more teachers should try to incorporate morals and values into their teaching like Jungle does. It’s especially important that they do it in a way that doesn’t target or demean students, but rather in a way that shows that they simply care,” said Courtney Ochi ‘10, a former student of Jungle Bob.
A handful of the Roberts family has followed Jungle to ‘Iolani. His eldest son, Mr. Ryan Roberts, teaches ceramics next door while his second son, Evan, works as a foreman with Jungle’s brother, Steven.
The Roberts family can always be seen around campus, flashing big grins and friendly greetings.
“Boogaloo,” a word Jungle once heard and now loves, is his own trademark aloha.
Jungle smiles when he thinks about his future.
“I’m going to do this until it isn’t any fun, and that just says, I’ll be here forever because it’s always fun.”
Loading ...