Taproot: A Journal of Outdoor Education
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pp. 27-30
Abstract
On the list of 50 simple things kids should know, what's item number one? Is there a single most important thing a kid or anyone should know about the earth?
If we posed this question to a random sample of environmental educators, typical responses might be:
"Humans can profoundly alter ecological systems."
"All of us need to take swift and immediate action to restore the environment to health."
"The Earth is in trouble, and all people must rally to save her."
Or perhaps one would choose the immortal closing lines of Dr. Seuss' The Lorax: "Unless each of us cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better, it's not."
Though I agree with each of these sentiments, none would be my choice for the first thing a child should know about the Earth. Not even close. In fact, what tops my list is perhaps the polar opposite:
There will always be an Earth, the Earth will always have life, and that life will always have an ecology. It is time to teach our children well, and remind them that the Earth has permanence.
Recommended Citation
Mike Weilbacher
(1998)
"The Single Most Important Thing to Know about the Earth,"
Taproot: A Journal of Outdoor Education: Vol. 11:
Iss.
1998, Article 9.
Available at:
https://digitalcommons.cortland.edu/taproot/vol11/iss1998/9