Why it matters:
I believe teaching children environmental responsibility is a critical part of a 21st-century education. But when I served as a student teacher in our city’s public schools, I saw a lot unintentional waste. The school’s recycling bins were seldom used.
Styrofoam trays were used to serve processed food. Fresh fruits and vegetables were served only a few times a week as a snack. While the curriculum rarely taught environmental responsibility, the students’ everyday experience taught them poor habits.
I believe we can do better for our children. We can teach our children simple ways to live more sustainably. We can build environmental education into a healthy and sustainable learning environment.
The Plan:
After considering the lessons of my student teaching experience, I found some like-minded women and got to work. We are preparing to open a school that will use and teach everyday sustainability.
We have registered our business and are currently operating out of a temporary office in my home. From this small space, we have made strong beginnings. In the fall, we are hoping to open the doors of our new facility to children in daycare and preschool
programs.
What Have We Done So Far?
We have already planted a small garden, with many plants started from seeds indoors. When the educational programs are started, the food from the garden will be featured in the children’s meals. Some of the produce will also be offered to local food banks.
Because we believe that environmental responsibility is social responsibility, we have begun planning a run/walk fundraising event for
Inner City Mission, a shelter for people who have been struggling and do not have a place to live. By working with our community support organizations, our school can be a force for change beyond the families we serve. We hope that the work that
begins in our school will ripple outward to affect our whole city.
We are also hosting a vendor event in July that will allow local artisans and entrepreneurs, including upcycling artisans, to show their work to the community. The event will also include a workshop where children and adults can learn how to start their
own indoor garden.
The Team:
Our core team is composed of four main characters: Monique, Jean, Kim and me (Valerie).
Jean has a B.A. in education and served as a substitute teacher in our public school district for five years.
Monique’s focus is on social services, and she has served as a teacher and an assistant director in several local daycare centers.
Monique and Jean each have a decade of experience in early childhood education.
Kim is a pharmacy technician at a state-run mental health facility. She is passionate about providing a great education for all children.
I (Valerie) hold a B.A. in psychology and an M.A. in education, and when not working as a tutor, I enjoy exploring life with my 6-year-old daughter and future student.
