[getsmart-l] Environmental Education in Ontario

[Gloria Boxen]

The following is taken from,

http://ogov.newswire.ca/ontario/GPOE/2007/05/01/c3377.html?lmatch=〈=_e.html

 Ministry of Education

Province strengthening environmental education

    TORONTO, May 1 /CNW/ - The McGuinty government is
strengthening environmental education by continuing
its support of the EcoSchools program and launching
two youth websites, Education Minister Kathleen Wynne
and
Environment Minister Laurel Broten announced today.
   
 ...
"Our government is committed to reaching every student
with an environmental education that inspires them to
take positive action."
    "Climate change is the challenge of our
generation," said Broten. "By informing and inspiring
students to take action on environmental issues and
climate change, Ontario benefits in two important ways
-- we will have healthier schools and greener
communities, and we are growing the
environmental leaders and innovators of tomorrow."


 A review by Ontario's Curriculum Council is also
underway on how environmental education is taught in
elementary and secondary schools. A working group, led
by astronaut and scientist Dr. Roberta Bondar, is
currently reviewing public submissions and a report to
the minister is expected by
summer 2007.
   
    Building on its commitment to turn environmental
education into action on climate change, the McGuinty
government is:

        -  Affirming its support for the Ontario
EcoSchools program
        -  Launching two new youth websites
www.obviously.ca for secondary students and
www.ontario.ca/ezone 
for elementary students to increase environmental
issues awareness.
   
The websites were created to explain the challenges
facing our planet and inspire them to take actions
that protect the environment - all within an
interactive media experience that includes music clips
and videos.
  

  "Obviously.ca is unique. Most environmental
government websites bombard you with information and
boring statistics," said Sandra Giangioppo, a student
at William Lyon Mackenzie Collegiate Institute in
Toronto. "But obviously.ca uses creative techniques
such as video clips and interesting facts to grab
your attention and really help you understand the
important environmental issues out there. It is a very
innovative and cool approach to increasing
environmental issues awareness."


    Ontario EcoSchools is an environmental education
program that addresses both how the schools are run
and what students learn. It has been designed by
school boards to incorporate environmental education
as well as environmentally responsible action into the
school setting. 

Evergreen (www.evergreen.ca) has been a partner in the
EcoSchools program since its inception and has been
responsible for the development of its school ground
greening component. There are currently 107 certified
EcoSchoo s at six boards in Ontario.
 
   "Evergreen is thrilled to be administering a
$500,000 grant from the Ministry of Education to
support the growth and expansion of the Ontario
EcoSchools program," said Evergreen's Executive
Director Geoff Cape. "EcoSchools has helped so many
students, teachers and staff take action
together for the environment - in the classroom, in
the school building and on the school grounds. We are
certain it will be welcomed in schools and boards
across Ontario. We congratulate the government for its
support and vision."

    "EcoSchools are focused on student success - in
both academics and positive contributions to society,"
said Catherine Mahler, EcoSchools' project
coordinator. "This government support will help us
engage thousands of more students, enabling them to
take their classroom learning and transform their
schools with environmentally responsible practices."
  
 ...
  
    
(Next) step will be the announcement of a climate
change plan - a step that will help all Ontarians do
their part to make our province cleaner and greener
while keeping the economy strong.

    <<
    Disponible en français

                              www.edu.gov.on.ca
                              www.ene.gov.on.ca
                           www.ontario.ca/progress
    >>


-30-

For further information: Michelle Despault, Minister's
Office, Ministry
of Education, (416) 212-3747; 
Patricia MacNeil, Communications Branch,
Ministry of Education, (416) 325-2676; 

Sandra Watts, Minister's Office, 
Ministry of the Environment, (416) 314-6739; 
John Steele, Communications Branch, 
Ministry of the Environment, (416) 314-6666; 

Education Public Inquiries: (416) 325-2929 or
1-800-387-5514, TTY: 1-800-263-2892