Making a Difference
This is a pivotal time in human history. People have pushed the planet to its brink and it's time to change old habits in order to create a brighter, healthier future. To make these important changes, people need to understand what's going on and how their actions impact the planet.
What the World Needs Now
The planet needs help. People created the problems, so it's up to people to solve them. The atmosphere is warming up, leading to serious storms and causing the ice caps to melt. Pollution from factories, cars, and people makes the air and water dirty. Chemicals that are made in laboratories and used in everyday products end up in the bodies of polar bears and humans alike. Species are going extinct faster than at any other time in history.
It's a pretty dire picture when you examine it all at once, but if you look at it piece by piece you can quickly see how many opportunities there are for people to turn things around. It's time to set aside differences and come together for the common goal of a healthy future.
Many people all over the world have already begun making the changes necessary to protect the planet, but there is still much, much more to do. Every day is a new chance to teach another person, spark another solution, and create a better tomorrow.
How can you create a green classroom if your school isn't thinking green yet? Make the transitions easier by making your intentions transparent. Write letters to the school administrators and parents. Let them know you feel it's important to raise responsible global citizens who care for the Earth. Invite them to share ideas for teaching the students or making changes at the school. If they need additional convincing, tell them that going green is not just about protecting the planet: It also protects human health and saves money. The monetary savings are generally a clincher for schools.
Still, you know your principal, and perhaps the best way to get started is just to do it! Let the administration come to you if they have any concerns. A key to communicating your intentions in a less-than-hospitable community is by making sure you are using positive language instead of coming off as judgmental. Remember to pat people on the back for every small act and every little idea. It's much harder to teach adults to change their behavior (that's why it's important to start with children), so take things slow and encourage cooperation by keeping things easy. It's all about patience, persistence, practicality, and positivism. Before you know it, the children will be leading by example and the adults will have no other choice but to follow.
Children Are the Future
As all good teachers know, children are the future. If you're reading the daily headlines about global warming and pollution, the future can look pretty unappealing and downright scary. Yet there are already scores of teenagers and children who have gotten a glimpse of that future and decided it is unacceptable and avoidable. These young people are making significant changes all over the world. They are an inspiration, and they represent just a fraction of the imagination and hope the next generation has to offer. For example, Kids for Saving Earth (KSE) has been in existence since 1989. The first members have now become adults. Over and over again, KSE receives letters from former kid members — now adult teachers who are continuing to spread the spirit of Earth-saving.
Teachers are some of the most influential people in society. You hold the power to transform young minds. You lay the foundations for tomorrow's leaders. What you teach is what will be carried forth. Whether it's math, history, or sustainability, if you don't plant the seeds, the concepts will not grow. Even though living green is not a core pillar of today's curriculum, it is an imperative concept for maintaining a healthy planet for generations to come.
Luckily, a green education can be woven into the general lessons of reading, writing, arithmetic, and all other curricular areas. The most important thing about teaching sustainability is to empower the children through action. There are already countless examples of teachers engaging children in environmental activities that inspire the students to initiate a wide variety of other actions in all arenas of life — at school, at home, and in the community. Children almost instinctually understand the importance of protecting wildlife and the Earth. They have to live in the future we created, so they know they must change that future. All they need is a little direction about how they can help.
Going green from the get-go saves a school a lot of green. According to a report for the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative, the cost of building a green school can be 1.5 percent to 2.5 percent more expensive than a conventional building, but the financial savings after twenty years are about $70 per square foot. That's more than ten times the initial cost.
Walk the Talk
Having a green classroom does not simply mean that you incorporate environmental concepts into your curriculum. It's not just about teaching sustainability; it's about trying to live it every moment you spend together. It sounds tough at first, but as you venture down the green path, you'll find that it quickly becomes habit. New ways to discuss it, learn it, and live it will continuously emerge. You'll also find that walking the talk strengthens the educational outcomes by making the learning process experiential.
