It's October 15th, at least here in Sydney. Along with thousands of other bloggers world-wide, I decided to take part in Blog Action Day, a day dedicated to the environment.
I've had my fair share of worries when it comes to the environment, including a rather long rant about a certain 'Inconvenient Truth'. But I thought long and hard about what it was that I felt I needed to say today. What about it is most important to me?
I think I figured it out. To me, it's all about the children.
When I was growing up in Sydney's western suburbs, the summers were scorching. It wasn't uncommon for us to whip out the sprinkler and spend an entire afternoon simply cooling off under the water. That part of my childhood is something I remember, something that I enjoyed. And it's already something that my future children will not get to experience, due to the current water restrictions that have been put into place, due to the current crisis.
The students that I teach at school are young, mostly seven and eight years old. Most don't come from well off families, or well educated ones. And subsequently, most just don't know how important the environment is to us, other than from what they are taught at school.
It's my responsibility to show them that. A big job yes, but oh so important. In twenty years, these kidlets will be making the decisions for themselves. These kidlets are the ones who will be raising their own families. And these kidlets may be responsible for the way our environment is changing, particularly here in Australia. It's my responsibility to open their eyes.
So today on Blog Action Day, and on any day, my one request is that you talk to your children. Chances are, they will have some sort of understanding as it is. But if they do not, if they aren't discussing the environment in their classroom, it will fall onto your shoulders to tell them the facts, and to tell them what is going on around them. Let's get informed.
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15 comments:
Awesome! I really agree that it's all about the children here! Even though I teach kiddos with pretty severe disabilities, I make a point of modeling recycling in the classroom. I make a huge point out of teaching them to toss paper out in the special blue can just for recyclable things.
Well done! My husband is a teacher and echoes the same sentiments.
Excellent idea...the children, after all, are the ones who will have to live with our current treatment of the environment.
I grew up in Melbourne and also have fond memories of hot summer days spent running through sprinklers on the green grass at home. You're right it is a great pity that our kids won't know those little pleasures.
Excellent post! :) Will link you up.
Well said!
Be sure to tell your kidlets to always recycle their beer cans and wine bottles. :)
That is all well and good and all... but how many times are you going to change your layout? You're confusing me :)
You do a good job, Aly! My elementary school did a great job about awareness on the environment and it's definitely made an impact.
Even today, I live and die by the recycling bin!
Ooh, your site is pretty. I like it a lot!
I am glad you take your teaching responsibility...well...seriously. And responsibly.
And as I said on my site, I wash my hair so few times per week that I have GOT to be saving water. Every little bit helps, right? :)
Back to the old template now? Are you feeling frustrated, or just creative and you're secretly working on a new template that you will unveil to the world and make us all swoon?
Oh, and good job on the earth friendliness stuff, too! :D
So true, there is no where better to start than at the beginning.
Excellent post! So true! :)
Nice post.
I have a 3 year old niece who spent the first two years of her life in western sydney. It wasn't until they moved to Central Qld that she actually got to run under the sprinkler. It just made me realise how my child's childhood is going to be different than my own. I just hope it's better.
I'm hopeless when it comes to the environment. I find I am far too concerned with myself to be worrying... BUT.. I will be switching over to the APM low sudsing shampoo (if only I could figure out how it turned from green to brown in the space of a day), and I've resorted to not cleaning the trailer as much as I should. Hence, less water used! Hoorah.
Nice post Aly!
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