| This April 22nd marks Earth Day's 40th anniversary. | | | | And then there's a whole new breed of schools that |
| From its origins as a post Vietnam grassroots | | | | have sprung up, integrating environmental education |
| demonstration in 1970, through its lukewarm years in | | | | throughout its whole curriculum. A network of Green |
| the 80's, to its diverse celebrations in the new | | | | Charter schools has spread throughout the U.S. with |
| millennium, Earth Day marks our evolving relationship | | | | names like: The Growing Up Green School, The Urban |
| with our planet. The idea of protecting the environment | | | | Assembly School for Green Careers, and simply, The |
| has changed over the last 40 years from an | | | | Green School. The students there go beyond the |
| occasional topic for study to that of a mainstream | | | | predictable topics such as global warming, recycling |
| attitude permeating lifestyle choices and social action. | | | | and tree planting, to look at local environmental issues |
| A look at some present day initiatives in schools | | | | and the impact they can have in society. |
| across North America brings inspiration and hope for a | | | | Despite a growing awareness through the 60's of |
| more sustainable future. | | | | environmental destruction, Senator Gaylord Nelson, |
| Schools are increasingly modelling stewardship to their | | | | who was the brainchild of Earth Day, was surprised by |
| students and involving them in the process. More and | | | | its immediate success in 1970. Approximately 20 million |
| more schools are earning environmental grants and | | | | Americans and thousands of colleges and universities |
| honorary awards for their gold, silver or bronze levels | | | | participated in coast-to-coast rallies, protests, |
| of environmentalism. The students are running recycling | | | | demonstrations and teach-ins. Senator Nelson has |
| programs, caring for their rooftop gardens, designing | | | | attributed this instant achievement to the grassroots |
| energy-efficient buildings, helping to carry out waste | | | | nature of the Day. Earth Day just organizes itself. |
| audits in their schools, and urging administrators to buy | | | | This is the legacy that Earth Day has brought to the |
| green school supplies and cleaning products. | | | | world stage, and the impetus for the modern |
| Another way in which schools are going green is to | | | | grassroots green movement. Wherever schools |
| retrofit their buildings to improve indoor air quality, | | | | across North America are on the spectrum of eco |
| increase energy efficiency, and capture solar energy | | | | awareness, there can be little doubt that the |
| through solar panels. New schools are often being built | | | | environment is a universal concern and schools are |
| green from the ground up. According to the 2006 | | | | celebrating Earth Day in a diversity of ways. The next |
| Greening America's Schools: Costs and Benefits | | | | generation will come less to see Earth Day as a day |
| report, it costs approximately less than 2%, or about | | | | to remember the plight of the earth as it is an |
| $3 per square foot more, to build a green versus | | | | opportunity to celebrate their year-long activities and |
| traditional school, and payback often occurs within a | | | | achievements. |
| few years due to energy savings. | | | | |