Posted on 05/17/2011 1:53:11 PM PDT by IbJensen
(CNSNews.com) – Next year on Earth Day, the Obama administration plans to announce which U.S. schools have been selected as “Green Ribbon Schools,” a designation that will “honor” schools for “creating healthy and sustainable learning environments” and for “teaching environmental literacy.”
The Green Ribbon Schools program was announced in late April, but details on how schools will be picked or what the honor entails have not been released.
Jo Ann Webb, spokeswoman for the U.S. Department of Education, told CNSNews.com that the program is still under development.
“The criteria have not been developed yet,” Webb said. “The plan is for the U.S. Department of Education, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the Council for Environmental Quality to develop the criteria this spring and summer and to issue the call for applications early this fall.
Webb said the program would recognize schools for “engaging students on environmental issues and producing environmentally literate students; increasing energy efficiency and using renewable energy technologies; and creating healthy learning environments by addressing environmental issues in the schools.”
Webb said approximately 50 Green Ribbon schools could be named on Earth Day 2012. In announcing the program, Obama administration officials touted the importance of environmentalism as part of a good education.
“Preparing our children to be good environmental citizens is some of the most important work any of us can do,” U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan said when he announced the new program last month. “It’s work that will serve future generations and quite literally sustain our world.”
“Each day, we ask students across the nation to demonstrate excellence, integrity and leadership in the classroom, and in return, the federal government must do the same,” said Nancy Sutley, chairwoman of the White House Council on Environmental Quality.
“The Green Ribbon Schools program will recognize healthy learning spaces that promote environmental literacy and prepare our leaders of tomorrow to win a clean energy future.”
What is meant by “environmental literacy” varies, depending on the source, but in general, it includes a belief that human actions are contributing to climate change.
In announcing the Green Ribbon Schools program, EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson said that schools taking part in the program "will help kids connect what they’re learning in science class with the world around them, allowing them to envision solutions to tomorrow’s challenges while living healthier lives today.
“By making green living a part of everyday learning, Green Ribbon Schools will prepare our children to win the future by leading our global green energy economy,” Jackson said.
'Energy literacy'
The Education Department and EPA aren't the only federal agencies reaching out to young people.
Separately, the U.S. Energy Department -- in its 2011 Strategic Plan -- says it intends to "promote energy literacy" to achieve the Obama administration's national energy goals.
"Because today’s young generation are tomorrow’s world leaders, we will champion outreach through competitions, project-based learning, interactive gaming, and social media," the report says on page 21.
The Energy Department says its energy literacy effort will aim for a "modest understanding of energy sources, generation, use and conservation strategies" to allow "informed decisions on topics from home energy use to international energy policy."
The Energy Department plans to "leverage relationships with academic institutions" and other public/private groups "to improve awareness and understanding of energy issues."
We need to get back to teaching our children reading, writing, arithmetic, true history, civics and quit teaching causes. They'll have enough causes slapping them in the face after they become adults and have attained the maturity to deal with them.
Obama Administration to Honor ‘Green’ Schools That Teach ‘Environmental Literacy’
____________________________________________________
Obozo needs to learn a little of that ‘Environmental Literacy’ himself. Every time he flies out on Air Force One on a whim to honor a ‘Green’ school or whatever...
He burns up 9,000 gallons of fuel.
I recommend the highest average score on the Science section of the ACT...
These schools will be teaching economic illiteracy (actually Marxism and usurpation of property rights). The rats have the right idea to gain permanent control of government. Start the indoctrination early and continue forcefully.
All on zero’s agenda to turn the youth of America into
dumb, dem., maroons.
China did the same thing with it’s youth. It was ugly and millions died. Now if Obama can just shift the ire of the youth gestapo to kill the people over 60, he’ll have solved the problems of medicaid, social security, and quality in education, all in one fell swoop!
Stupid bastard,How about Some American History??? Christ they had a history teacher on the radio who could not name who was on the hundred dollar bill,A Teacher mind you!!!
Quick—call the ACLU. We have a case of government-sponsored religion being taught in public schools!!
By definition, when one of the ruling class travels, it produces no harmful effects to the earth.
Any religion is OK as long as it’s not Christianity.
They can’t even define “green living”. How do you teach something that changes with the next headline?
Irving Texas is about to open Lady Bird Johnson Middle School, a “net zero” school complete with solar panels and little windmills.
It’s insane.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.