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Nature Deficit Disorder
Lawmakers finally have a response to the unfortunate truth that the No Child Left Behind Act often means labs and fieldwork for science classes get left behind in favor of test preparation. The No Child Left Inside Act, sponsored by Rep. John P. Sarbanes (D-MD), is a proposed amendment to NCLB and an attempt to refocus STEM education on hands-on experiences. The bill addresses the trend of students with “nature deficit disorder” by mandating that states create and follow environmental literacy. This effort would hopefully serve to fill a gaping hole in science education by producing students who are informed and concerned about environmental issues and policy, which will undoubtedly become increasingly relevant as they reach voting age.
The House Education and Labor Committee passed the bill, H.R. 3036, on June 18. It includes provisions for increased funding for environmental education programs and teacher development. No word yet on how, if passed, NCLI will effect national testing standards or the disproportionately small amount of time focused on science in many elementary classrooms.
Comments on this article
This legislation looks like a step in the right direction, and I certainly like the thinking behind it, but, from the looks of the bill, the money will be distributed based on grants from each “nonprofit organization,State educational agency, local educational agency, or institution of higher education” (Sec. 5624).
June 25th, 2008 at 5:20 pmMy concern is that this method, which I suspect was the product of a compromise with legislators who wouldn’t want the educational initiatives described in the bill to be mandatory, will keep many of the students with the greatest need from benefiting from this legislation. Grant-writers are no where to be found in the worst schools, and I worry that a disproportionate amount of the money will go towards already excellent schools that already offer their students a tremendous variety of educational opportunities. Kids will certainly benefit from this, certainly, but perhaps they will not be not as needy a group as those the bill was designed to aid.
Steven–your point about the possibly disproportionate dispersal of funds is really excellent. The low income schools don’t have grant writers that know the ropes. If they do, it may be a difficult time commitment considering that strapped resources limit their ability to run around and complete the complicated and detailed steps necessary for each grant. It is certainly an implication that many people forget.
In the fall, I will be teaching 4th grade science and social studies — two of the coolest subjects — and it’s great to know that doors such as this one are open to those who know about it. We need to spread the word.
Briana–> Any updates?
June 28th, 2008 at 2:34 pm