Image courtesy of: http://www.gulfmex.org/multiculture_archives.htm
Monday, April 13, 2009
What are kids learning at school?
The education system in America is probably the best in the world. Every child has an opportunity to go to school for free and even eat for free. Of those who graduate high school, a large percentage have the opportunity to go to college whether that be through scholarships, loans or some other method of payment. I realize that all is not perfect with our school systems, however, but I want to draw attention to a concept that American schools have up until now failed everyone who has attended them. Everyone should be well aware by now that this blog is designed to discuss the reasons why Americans need to think about reducing waste, and reusing and recycling products and resources. What a better place to do this than public schools? Children as young as five could begin to hear about how they can help sustain the Earth just by sorting glass, aluminum and plastic from the rest of household garbage. Colleges are good about this but elementary, middle, and high schools should have paper recycling bins next to trash cans. Unused food from cafeterias also creates large amounts of waste. This is incredibly sad as much of that unused food could go to shelters, soup kitchens and meals-on-wheels programs to help feed those in need. Other food wastes could be used to create a school compost. How cool would it be if children grew up learning about sustainable living practices in the classroom while learning about waste-management and composting from their own cafeteria???? I only wish I could have been so lucky.
Image courtesy of: http://www.gulfmex.org/multiculture_archives.htm
Image courtesy of: http://www.gulfmex.org/multiculture_archives.htm
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Where can you eat for free?! lol
ReplyDeleteBut on a serious note...I completely agree that kids should be learning this. I did hear about it a little in class, but then nowhere in the school did I see a recycling bin. Kids need to learn different things in school. (This is also a huge cause of the problem in my blog).
The school my brother and sister attend does recycle all of their lunch materials- milk cartons have a bin, plastics have their own bin, and the lunch trays have their own. Also the school ever year holds "contests" within each class on who can bring in the most used phone books. The results are so overwhelming, they usually fill up the dumpster within the first week. I did not learn about waste-management and composting when I was in elementary school, but it has changed a lot. But I do agree with you that there does need to be way more focus on school recycling.
ReplyDelete