A recent article by Janice Lee ('What Humanity Can Learn From Plants'), raises this question. It's well worth reading! Lee asks why we value 'scientific' knowledge over all other ways of knowing and points out some other limitations of our ways, such as rendering non-human living beings as 'it', as if they were inanimate objects. She suggests we could learn a lot from trees … [Read more...] about Peter’s blog: ‘What could we be learning from others?’
Education & Schools
Learning is a natural process that happens in every imaginable setting. Schools are designed, in theory, to promote and enhance learning. Some schools use highly-structured curriculum, while others use a more experiential, democratic, & student-driven approach. In practice, many schools also function to stifle criticism and to instill the values of state policy, religious dogma, or other value systems.
Also, see:
- teach-climate.net for information on how to integrate global warming & climate change into your school!
- resources for better schools & learning
Other school-related topics: Militarism in schools
Teaching What’s Right: Teaching Columbus in Schools
As I’ve gotten older, I’ve noticed some inaccuracies in information I learned through my grade school career. One fallacy that was widely accepted and taught was the notion that Christopher Columbus discovered America. It was ingrained into our minds all throughout elementary school. In 1492, Columbus sailed the ocean blue. But as I’ve gotten older, I know that this fact isn’t … [Read more...] about Teaching What’s Right: Teaching Columbus in Schools
Peter’s blog: ‘Thanksgiving & Colonialism’
Thanksgiving Day seems an appropriate time to post this brief historical note about Colonialism in the United States. I'll start by mentioning that this is the original territory of the Lenape, now known as the Delaware. Like most parts of North America, Pennsylvania & New Jersey were occupied by Indigenous people for thousands of year before the first European settlers … [Read more...] about Peter’s blog: ‘Thanksgiving & Colonialism’
Peter: ‘Campus Food — look at Toronto’s example’
I think these schools have a way to go, but they're still doing a lot better than most colleges & universities in the U.S. NOW 2 August 2017 Where to find healthy and local food options at eight Toronto colleges and universities The lowdown on cafeterias and campus eateries putting sustainability at the top of the menu by Adria Vasil Tired of stuffing street dogs and … [Read more...] about Peter: ‘Campus Food — look at Toronto’s example’
Synthetic Turf update [August 2017]
Tug McGraw. John Vukovich. Johnny Oates. And now Darren Daulton—that's 4 Phillies who have succumbed to brain cancer that may be connected to playing on artificial turf at Veterans Stadium. Phillies Unnerved by Possible Brain Cancer Pattern After Darren Daulton Death | Rolling Stone The Brain Cancer That Keeps Killing Baseball Players | New York Times Four Phils and brain … [Read more...] about Synthetic Turf update [August 2017]
Peter: ‘Charlottesville — for Teachers”
I have heard quite a few people say they are amazed that something like the events in Charlottesville could happen here, 'happen in America'. The stream of violence—often police violence—directed at Black people, Latinos, and Indigenous people is not new, nor is the violent treatment of Muslims & Indigenous people. In fact, these have all been problems since before the US … [Read more...] about Peter: ‘Charlottesville — for Teachers”
Coming Soon—A Guide for Teaching About the Food System
Student interns are working with Peter Crownfield to complete a guide and resources for teaching about the food system in the classroom. The guide is designed for K-12 teachers & students, and will include a guide to the history of our current food system, what a better & more sustainable food system would look like, and ideas for activities to engage students. (It … [Read more...] about Coming Soon—A Guide for Teaching About the Food System
Interdisciplinary Teaching on Climate & Calculating Your School’s GHG Emissions
by Megan Arnold and Peter Crownfield Climate change is in the news, and we’ve seen a huge marches for science and for climate action. In many schools, though, global warming and climate change have been largely ignored, except for brief discussions in some science classes. And, despite the push for more STEM education, the U.S. government is now downplaying science and has … [Read more...] about Interdisciplinary Teaching on Climate & Calculating Your School’s GHG Emissions
The war on science has begun
Trump's teams are now taking on the various executive departments, and the “War on Science” has begun. Some departments, including USDA, have already been order not to publish scientific data — even data from publicly-funded research. The Environmental Protection Agency, National Institutes of Health, and others follow. At EPA, there is a ban on any press releases, blog … [Read more...] about The war on science has begun
fyi: “Replace Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples Day”
Following up on the previous post about Standing Rock, suggestions have expanded to the rapidly-growing movement to replace Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples Day: What Is Indigenous People's Day? More States Observe Alternative… Don't Take Our Voices Away (Role Play) Rethinking Columbus — Expanded 2nd Edition! | Rethinking Schools Support Indigenous Rights: Abolish … [Read more...] about fyi: “Replace Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples Day”