Deforestation and Global Warming are closely coupled and we all know that. But what about our schools of today? How do they relate to these?
Well, today's schools are quite resource-intensive. They are one of the biggest consumers of paper. I have observed pre-schools and alternative charter schools in America for a period of 9 collective years (I have two kids that went to pres-school and elementary school). Also, I know the state of affairs at schools in India. The picture is not much different.
Do you know how much paper was wasted over your child learning ABC's? And how much was wasted over 1,2,3's? I say "wasting" because, if the learning process is different the consumption and medium would be very different.
My grandmother in India remembers using sand as a medium to learn to write. Students were asked to use their index fingers to trace a letter or number on sand that was spread over the floor. This approach is used by some Montessori schools even now. The next generation (my parents, in 1950's) was introduced to slate and chalk. Paper made its way into kindergarten when I was in school in late 70's. Each generation has seen a overlap in the medium used -- as kids at school, my parents used both sand and slate; I have used both slate and paper.
The current generation primarily uses paper. The increasing workload at schools can only mean increasing demand for paper. Now add population growth to this picture and you can see why and how today's schools contribute toward deforestation and global warming.
Does the current generation of children know that they are using up their oxygen-giving, rain-giving trees? Do they know that the previous generation (i.e.we, their parents) is still busy deforesting and can never undo the damage done? How can we continue doing this injustice to our children? How can resources be exploited in the name of learning and education?
- Hema
Well, today's schools are quite resource-intensive. They are one of the biggest consumers of paper. I have observed pre-schools and alternative charter schools in America for a period of 9 collective years (I have two kids that went to pres-school and elementary school). Also, I know the state of affairs at schools in India. The picture is not much different.
Do you know how much paper was wasted over your child learning ABC's? And how much was wasted over 1,2,3's? I say "wasting" because, if the learning process is different the consumption and medium would be very different.
My grandmother in India remembers using sand as a medium to learn to write. Students were asked to use their index fingers to trace a letter or number on sand that was spread over the floor. This approach is used by some Montessori schools even now. The next generation (my parents, in 1950's) was introduced to slate and chalk. Paper made its way into kindergarten when I was in school in late 70's. Each generation has seen a overlap in the medium used -- as kids at school, my parents used both sand and slate; I have used both slate and paper.
The current generation primarily uses paper. The increasing workload at schools can only mean increasing demand for paper. Now add population growth to this picture and you can see why and how today's schools contribute toward deforestation and global warming.
Does the current generation of children know that they are using up their oxygen-giving, rain-giving trees? Do they know that the previous generation (i.e.we, their parents) is still busy deforesting and can never undo the damage done? How can we continue doing this injustice to our children? How can resources be exploited in the name of learning and education?
- Hema
Hema,
ReplyDeleteI came across your blog via Sangeetha Sriram's facebook wall post. Really glad to find. Your thoughts resonate with me a lot specially those on reducing waste, preserving traditions. You're right - the amount of paper that go into schools making kids learn ABCs is humungous. My daughter is now being unschooled but when she wen to play school, the mode of learning in her school made me cringe....
At schools or in homes, people go on using paper without blinking an eye. In India, there's no waste management system - garbage whether its recycleable, organic waste or toxic - go into the same dump...
And it seems, there's no sign of a conscious change. All we can do is - do out bit in our own homes, spread the message and bring about the change one baby step at a time. Only, the damage has been done to such an extent that much more than just baby steps is the need of the hour...
www.mommy-labs.com
Hi there,
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comment. You are absolutely right about our baby steps not being enough at this time.
A lot of times, I see that the forces operating to destroy the world around us are way beyond a common man's comprehension. So it is very easy to fall into the trap, get carried away by the currents, run the race. "How do we maintain sanity, cheer and compassion and continue swimming against the current?" This is a question I often ask myself. I believe it is very important for the few us to continue doing what we are doing.
- Hema