Summer Break? Not for these PLT Educators!
At a time when our nation’s leaders are trying to deal with budgetary issues and the mood on Capitol Hill is as tense as it’s been in years, it’s refreshing to report some good news that should serve PLT coordinators, facilitators, teachers and other educators well.
On July 26th and 27th, PLT coordinators from several states met with our Representatives and Senators in Washington DC to report program successes, share best practices and above all, promote the importance of natural resources education inside AND outside the classroom.
It’s no secret to educators around the country that funding is being cut to programs that promote environmental programs. While we all share in the need to tighten our belts, one of our missions while in Washington DC was to ask our leaders not to make these budget cuts disproportional.
Natural Resources education serves so many needs beyond just learning about the great outdoors. In my home state of New Mexico, like with every other state, our natural environment is tied into job creation, scientific advancement and new energy technologies, not to mention economic development, tourism and our very culture.
One of the big issues I, along with my fellow New Mexican, Barbara Garrity from the Environmental Education Association of New Mexico, wanted to discuss with elected officials was the No Child Left Inside Act of 2011, which was just recently introduced to the 112th Congress.
Many PLT educators know that the importance of science and natural resources education has taken a back seat to reading and math studies in our schools. The NCLI Act looks to correct this imbalance by stressing the importance of environmental studies in all core science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) areas.
With bi-partisan support, the act is gaining steam, but more help is needed from educators, students and parents. Writing your elected officials and explaining how natural resources education can maximize students’ learning potential can help the Act succeed. And if it succeeds, it can free up funding for outdoor learning, offer incentives for teachers and schools to encourage environmental literacy programs and most importantly, make environmental education an integrated part of core curriculum.
Here in New Mexico this year, we’ve seen a historic number of acres burn due to wildfire. It’s become obvious to me that it’s never been more important to get our children the knowledge they need to become stewards of our land. By supporting natural resources education in our schools’ curriculum, we give children a head start on the complexities of forest and watershed health. This way, we help them preserve the legacy our lands have become, for future generations.
Dan Ware is Co-coordinator of the PLT program in New Mexico and sits on the American Forest Foundation’s National Public Affairs Committee.
Photo (L to R) Virginia teacher Margot Dickey, Congressman Bobby Scott and PLT's Kathy McGlauflin talk about environmental education on Capitol Hill. Credit Margot Dickey.
