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Maryland schools set to adopt environmental literacy programs
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Maryland has consistently been at the forefront of primary and secondary education. Earlier this year, the magazine Education Week named the state’s school system number one in the nation. Now, the innovative state is considering adopting a new environmental literacy program.
While many schools already have such programs, the new proposal would extend access to all students statewide and would become a requirement for graduation.
The initiative reflects recent figures that show that 80 percent of adults in the U.S. are environmentally illiterate.
"Imagine if 80 percent of the country were functionally illiterate – could not read or write. In this scenario, how would literacy rates influence quality of life, economic development, cultural expression, the progression of new ideas and the protection of freedom?" asked Bronwyn Mitchell, executive director of the Maryland Association for Environmental and Outdoor Education.
The program is part of a new approach by the state to environmental protection. Rather than constantly "throwing money at the problem," Mitchell says, the state will focus on building a knowledge base that will help future populations attack the problem better.
Advocates for the plan include the No Child Left Inside Coalition and the Maryland Coastal Bays Programs. They believe that environmental literacy will be crucial for making informed decisions.
The state plans on enlisting environmental education professionals to help already busy teachers with the new material. Additionally, the Eastern Shore offers rich possibilities for environmental education, including its national seashore, wildlife refuges, state and county parks, museums and conservation organizations.
While not all states are considering implementing mandatory environmental education programs, environmental science degrees at public and private institutions of secondary education are gaining in popularity. Goshen College, for example, offers an agroecology summer intensive which teaches students the biology and politics of growing food.
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