My Kids Are So Green

A friend sent me this quote a while back and I find myself thinking about it a fair amount as I teach my kids.

Dear teacher:
I am a survivor of a concentration camp. My eyes saw what no person should witness: gas chambers built by learned engineers. Infants killed by trained nurses. Women and babies shot and burned by high school and college graduates. So, I am suspicious of education.

My request is:
Help your students to become human. Your efforts must never produce learned monsters, skilled psychopaths, educated Eichmanns. Reading, writing, and arithmetic are important only if they serve to make our children more human.
- Author unknown; in Haim Ginnot, Teacher and Child

As I constantly push my kids to think creatively, ask good questions and develop critical thinking, I have started to see a trend. A little while ago, I taught my kids about climate change. Although this was 2 months ago they have really taken it to heart. Whenever I put them into groups to create a new product or develop something new, 8 out of 10 groups usually choose something related to improving the environment. I also let them debate about their product ideas and if another groups idea is not green enough they are often quizzed by the other students. For example: a group presented a business idea of growing rare fruits and selling them for a high price (an ok, not so great idea). The first question from the students out of the gate was: “where will you grow these fruits? Will you have to cut down forests to grow these fruits? Because if you do, you know that deforestation hurts the environment.” It seems like they are really taking it to heart. They are also working on their actions to stop climate change too. I have noticed that when I finish my lesson before their lunch period they are now very quick to turn off the lights when this certainly wasn’t common practice before. I know an action like turning out the one florescent class room light will not stop climate change but it’s good to see my kids trying and thinking about it and working for change.

Why can’t we have this kind of commitment in the states? Why can’t we legitimately try to reduce our carbon footprint without the corporate green washing to help us along? Even if you don’t believe the science behind climate change, would it be too painful to turn off your lights, carpool a little, eat a little less meat and ask other to do the same? Just in case all those scientists are right. Although Africa’s contributions to climate change are minuscule compared to contribution by the rest of the world, these kids are trying. They understand the importance of their environment and are opening up their minds to creating change and preserving the sacred land God gave us all to share.

Is it because we are already seeing the affects of climate change here? Do we need to be closer to nature to really feel the effects before we move to change? Whatever the hurdles are, please let’s reduce our carbon footprint. Even if you don’t do it for yourself, do it my kids. We are seeing climate change take hold here and are trying but we can’t do it alone.