An op-ed in the Boston Globe caught my eye because I assumed most school systems were "going green" and teaching students about the importance of being eco-friendly. But, apparently, there is a lot of work to be done.
Everyone from Al Gore to IBM has been stressing the importance of preserving the environment, but many schools are lagging in this area. There are a number of laws being passed and awareness groups being formed to get students involved in the "green" movement, but the author argues that students need to be educated about the environment at an early age. Schools are charged with educating students about important issues that they will need to address as adults, and saving the environment is one of the most important topics students should learn about and practice.
Does your school teach environmental responsibility? Is your school system "going green"?
Members, log in to read about T.C. Williams High School's (in Alexandria, Va.), green evolution.
My home district is building an elementary school and we have fought long and hard to make sure it is LEED certified. Being LEED maintains a level of sustainability that is good for the environment, a quality insurance that the building will work to its intended capacity and healthy conditions for the people who will be spending a large portion of their time in the building. LEED is not free, but the fee is considerably inexpensive considering all it saves in the long run. A school can obtain more LEED point toward certification if it has a Green curriculum. Our district has a committee of community members as well as representatives from the school called the "Green Team" (a continuation of the people involved with making the building LEED certified). Our mission is to develop curriculum that is standard for the school district and goes beyond recycling, expanding sustainable living into every aspect of the student's life. It is an exciting time for Lake Bluff. This experience is bringing sustainable living to the forfront of our community thinking. Village events are focusing on green living as well as finding ways to educate the families of the area.
Posted by: Diane R. | January 06, 2009 at 12:03 PM
My district approaches this by encouraging cost-effective measures such as recycling and conservation of materials. We do not, however, publicly support the myth of 'global warming'. Please remember the facts: There is a large community of scientist that also call this a myth and are ignored because it isn't 'PC' to discuss it. Courts in England have ruled that schools that wish to show Al Gore's movie must send home notifications about its mis-truths first, and yesterday a report was released stating that the polar ice cap is at the same level as it was in 1979. Going green is a great idea, for reasons other than the 'convenient lie!'
Posted by: E. Fountain | January 07, 2009 at 01:39 PM