Remedial But Green

With remedial education becoming more of a trend on college campuses every year and employers complaining that new hires lack basic skills, public schools are naturally pursuing grants that will prepare students for environmental activism. “Public schools around the country that have successfully implemented innovative and sustainable school greening programs have an opportunity to be recognized for their efforts,” Dan Seligson of the National Environmental Education Foundation (NEEF) has announced. “The National Environmental Education Foundation, with major support from the National Education Association (NEA) Foundation and in partnership with EarthEcho Inc., will award a $10,000 Green Prize in Public Education to an outstanding public school that demonstrates success in engaging students, faculty and their local community in school greening efforts.”

“Greening efforts can take a variety of forms, including a creative and innovative classroom curriculum that integrates the environment, changes in daily operations that lead to greater efficiency and resource conservation or physical improvements to school grounds and facilities.”

“Through the leadership and involvements of educators, staff, parents, students, community partners and others, green schools provide rich opportunities for collaborative learning and problem solving. They also reduce costs, minimize waste, increase efficiency and contribute to a healthy environment.”

Meanwhile, “California Dream Week announces its first edition challenging high school juniors and seniors from Northern California to dream and propose of concepts for a sustainable tomorrow. Organized by Soroptimist International of Chico, winners and their schools could receive awards of up to $20,000 in scholarships and cash prizes and be paired with international designers who will interpret the winning ideas. Finished concepts will be displayed in the Spring of 2011, during a showcase event in Chico, one of the nation’s hotbeds of sustainability.”

Malcolm A. Kline is the Executive Director of Accuracy in Academia.

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