This week I listened to a podcast by Irma Allen who is the chairperson of Swaziland Environment Authority which is similar to the United State's EPA. She is also a member of World Forum Nature Action Collaborative for Children. Mrs. Allen is very passionate about early child education, especially nature's involvement in classrooms. Nature is very important because in Swaziland there are no classrooms and the lesson plans are very dependent on nature. Mrs. Allen mentioned there is not always water available so when there is water they do water activities. This is extremely different than here in the U.S. because water play is part of every day play. I was extremely moved by a story she shared of a young man who spoke at a retirement party for a teacher. The man said he was an orphan was one of the first children of the her preschool and he learned to appreciate his country and the environment. I feel many of the children in our country are losing the appreciation for nature as more focus turns to technology. I wonder how this will impact the fight for recycling and saving our environment. This podcast made me ask how can children who have never climbed trees understand the need to save them, will children who never fished in creeks feel upset by their pollution, and will children who never play outside see and want to put a stop to littering? Without exposing children to nature and all it has to offer, can our children appreciate the need to protect our environment?
I explored the website http://developingchild.harvard.edu/index.php/activities/global_initiative/. I went to the link for the Mother Child Education Foundation (ACEV) of Turkey. There was an article about a panel held for working on gender equality in Turkey. This is an important issue in many countries and affects the education of girls. I also learned about a study that followed children who had been abducted into armed groups in Sierra Leone. These children were 10-17 years old when they were released and able to return home. This study will help to better understand the impact of toxic stress experienced in childhood later in life. Both of these are issues that most people do not even realize occur in the world and it is easy to live in denial that children face these circumstances every day. We need to do better educating people in the United States and exposing our children to information about other countries so our children today can continue the work of others helping children in other countries.
Jennie,
ReplyDeleteThis project of finding out what is going on in other countries education is an eye opener. So many things children have to deal with in other countries, especially third world countries that they do not have to deal with here. I too agree with a focus on technology what will become of nature. On my street alone I see very few children who go out to play. Most are inside playing on video games, tablets or the computer. I will not allow my children to go into these houses to play these games. If they want to play with their friends they need to play outside and enjoy nature.-Jolene Hernanadez-Romero
Hello Jennie,
ReplyDeleteThe podcast you listened to seems very informative. Irma Allen surely exposes the importance of teaching young learners about the environment around them. I think with standards in education, we kind of get away from simple activities that explore nature and appreciation for our Earth. I do have a theme in my school year were we discuss these topics, but again the discussion isn't year round.
Thanks,
Tierra Jackson
Hell Jennie,
ReplyDeleteThis was very interesting to read, Nature should be a very important fixture in the lives of young children. To answer your question, children need to be at one with nature and to explore and experience it's beauty! If children do not have learning experiences with nature, then they cannot appreciate it.
Hi Jennie,
ReplyDeleteI found both of your topics to be very enlightening. I agree with you in what our country takes for granted. I cannot imagine that a natural resource such as water can be such a precious commodity for others in various parts of the world.
I also agree with you in regards to what you shared about what girls and young women in other countries have to endure. Human trafficking and exploitation of girls is a growing concern around the world and has even hit home here in the US. I recently read about a few of these human trafficking rings being busted along the east coast and other places in the Midwest in where the leaders of these groups have numerous affiliations in many states in the US and in various parts of the world. It is time for more light to be shed on these situation. Thanks for sharing.