No doubt you have heard of No Child Left Behind, but have you heard of the No Child Left Inside (NCLI) legislation?
Last year, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the No Child Left Inside Act, which is about to be reintroduced in the Senate and House. If passed, and signed by President Obama, No Child Left Inside will bring environmental education to K-12 grades in America’s public school system. Among the items included in the bill are requirements for increased teacher training, as well as funding to help schools pay for outdoor education.
Led by The Chesapeake Bay Foundation, the NCLI coalition has over 1,100 member organizations. Learn more about NCLI here. Interested in learning more about environmental education? Visit the North American Association of Environmental Education.
See ya outside! – The Grass Stain Guru
As an adult I sit in front of a computer most of the day at work and I’m sad to admit that I spent a good part of my evening with my laptop. Science has evolved so we can accomplish and learn so much through computers but we can’t forget the value of learning by doing, by experimenting. I’m thankful that my 4-year-old goes to a pre-school where they do introduce the children to computers but there is equal attention to dramatic play, running around outside, and exploring the world around them, among other things. My daughter loves when they talk about wildlife and nature. Last week there was a lot of discussion about Spring. She and her friends enjoy looking for bugs, watching the flowers grow, experimenting with seeds to see if they can make something grow, and in the past have watched how a caterpillar turns into a butterfly (a real highlight that she hopes they will do again). We must find ways to ensure our children get outside to exercise, play and experience their natural world. And let’s hope parents, like myself, can remember to do the same!
Thanks for your thoughtful comment, Mary. Your points are spot on — and LOVE that you mentioned the need for we grown-ups to get out there, too.
Cheers- Bethe
Retweeting @balmeras: New post @ The Grass Stain Guru: Environmental Education Goes to Washington http://bit.ly/Jbrt #edreform
I am a 2nd grade teacher and I love taking my students outside! Unfortunately the mandates of covering the curriculum often interfere with this. I would be thrilled to see NCLI come to be a required part of our curriculum. I am excited about the change of seasons because it opens up so many opportunities for my class to go outside yet still cover my curriculum. This spring we will experience metamorphis hands on. Frogs, butterflies and chickens will be brought to life. My students are super excited to see how this miracle of life happens and how lucky am I to get to watch it too?! Hopefully President Obama’s own 2nd grade daughter will inspire him to bring this important legislation to light.
RT @balmeras: New post @ The Grass Stain Guru: Environmental Education Goes to Washington http://bit.ly/Jbrt #edreform – we LOVE NCLI!!
thank you @balmeras for writing this blog. Environmental Education Goes to Washington http://tinyurl.com/c7s7fy
RT @chesapeakebay Thank you @balmeras for writing this blog. Environmental Education Goes to Washington http://tinyurl.com/c7s7fy
RT @balmeras: New post @ The Grass Stain Guru: Environmental Education Goes to Washington http://bit.ly/Jbrt #edreform