Teach Green

Of the “Four Pillars” discussed in “The Little Green Schoolhouse” report, this is perhaps the most important. Environmental education is the kind of place-based education that, according to analyst Jack Chin, “provides students with opportunities to connect with themselves, their community and their local environment through hands–on, real–world learning experiences…[that] enables students to see that their learning is relevant to their world, to take pride in the place in which they live, to connect with the rest of the world in a natural way and to develop into concerned and contributing citizens.” What better place to start than in the place known as school? Let’s teach students about --

• the resources their schools consume, and involve them in making consumption more sustainable.
• toxics issues in and around schools, and involve them in minimizing their use.
• gardens and food systems, and involve them in growing their own food.