A dozen teachers gathered round a table at UFT headquarters one evening last week to hammer out the details of their pre-Earth Day teacher’s fair. The fair, to be held in March, will help create “teach-ins” about sustainability and the environment -- lessons that teachers can implement in their classrooms on April 22, Earth Day 2010.
The meeting was kicked off with presentations by Mary Most, the Department of Sanitation’s doyenne of school recycling, and John Shea, the CEO of the Division of School Facilities. Shea is the driving force behind many sustainability efforts in the schools. He noted progress in the network of sustainability coordinators now in place in more than 1,200 schools, and urged schools to sign up for the Green Cup Challenge energy reduction contest which starts in mid-January.
Micki Josi and Coquille Houshour, teachers who organized the Green Committee and founded the website Educatingtomorrow.org said the March teachers' fair will bring in curriculum, ideas, and inspiration so teachers can choose the right thing for their kids on Earth Day.”
Dozens of teachers, sustainability coordinators, and representatives from groups like Junior Energy and the mayor's Million Trees initiative filled the audience.
The new educational director of Earth Day NY is creating a speaker’s bureau for schools to call on, to address assemblies. The Earth Day NY website is already filled with exciting activities and ideas.
How do you get involved? Ask your teachers what plans are being laid for Earth Day 2010. And share your information with Insideschools.
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