The call is going out to Refuge Friends groups — and any concerned citizens who are reading this — to urge their representatives and senators to fight for passage of the “No Child Left Inside Act” (H.R. 3060 and S. 1981).

The more well known “No Child Left Behind Act” (NCLB) has had the unfortunate result of increasing environmental illiteracy in America by reducing the amount of environmental education that occurs in K-12 classrooms. The NCLB’s emphasis on testing for core subjects is causing many schools to eliminate environmental education classes in favor of math and language arts classes.

According to the No Child Left Inside Coalition website:

Even many science teachers feel compelled to eliminate those aspects of science class that do not appear to relate directly to questions on state science tests. Science curricula are narrowing in response to less time and more stringent assessment, limiting the amount and variety of environmental education as well as the kind of multidisciplinary teaching that it fosters.

Ironically, future issues relating to resource management and environmental sustainability may be inextricably linked to global economic leadership and security. Yet, if NCLB continues to be implemented in its current form, we will graduate a generation of students who are fundamentally unprepared to deal with the challenges they face on an individual, national, and global basis.

The No Child Left Inside Act would help address this problem by giving new incentives and support to school systems to provide environmental education. The Act also recognizes that high-quality environmental education often requires students to use math, reading, science and writing skills as they pursue engaging activities.

Expanded environmental education will also help boost academic achievement. A number of studies have found that students who take part in environmentally themed lessons do better in science and other subjects.

In addition to boosting environmental education in schools, the “No Child Left Inside Act” would also address the growing concern in America that children are getting out of touch with nature. More time spent in front of the computer, TV, and video games is creating a generation of children that are less likely to care about nature conservation and also less likely to be prepared to lead America as it faces highly complex problems such as global warming and species extinction. In addition , this lack of time in nature is also affecting the health of children — both physically and mentally.

From the No Child Left Inside Coalition website:

The term “nature-deficit disorder” was coined by author Richard Louv in his book “Last Child in the Woods” to describe what happens to young people who become disconnected from their natural world. Louv links this lack of nature to some of the most disturbing childhood trends, such as the rises in obesity, attention disorders, and depression.

Research is also showing that getting young people outdoors is helping ease attention disorders.

The No Child Left Inside Act would address this by igniting students’ interest in the outdoors and spurring them to take part in outside activities. And learning to explore the natural world and their personal connection to it, inevitably triggers an interest in spending more time in it.

As of July 23, 2008, the No Child Left Inside Coalition has over 530 member groups from all around the country. Urge your Friends group and local conservation organizations to join today.

Also, write your senators and representatives and urge them to support this bill. Go to the No Child Left Inside Coalition website and click on “Contact Your Congressperson.” This will take you to a page where you can send a letter. Also think about using the “Write a Letter to the Editor” link and “Talking Points” link on the site to alert the media to this important topic.

The chances of the “No Child Left Inside Act” being passed by the House of Representatives is good this year, although the chances in the Senate are slim, especially with so little time remaining in this Congress. But it’s important to build support for this bill in anticipation of a more environmentally friendly government taking control in 2009. So take action now and let your representatives and senators know you care.

To read more about environmental literacy legislation and funding, also check out the Campaign for Environmental Literacy website.

Tags:
conservation, environmental literacy, No Child Left Behind, No Child Left Inside