Greening the schools

Ecology is gaining importance in education. Future generations will have to live with the already visible effects of climate change, and their interest in the environmental issue is clear. Yet, for now, some feel that schools do not really have an ecological approach. Certainly, themes such as climate change or endangered biodiversity are addressed, but always within the framework of general programs. Some believe that the school should make sure that the disciplines are oriented towards environmentalism and not the opposite.

Besides, young people are increasingly calling for it as evidenced by the youth climate protests in early 2019. Not to mention the "trial of the century" in France and other similar interventions throughout the West to demand that governments act more strongly to take a green turn. Even schools in Quebec have developed a pact to push this will.

However, a question is raised  should schools go green to set an example for students? After all, it is an infrastructure that has an effect on a society's ecological footprint. How do we get it to go green?

Greening Up

Some schools are starting to establish green yards with various plants growing in them. This transforms the heat islands that asphalt lots around buildings can become into cooler places. To the delight of students, grass and trees gain more prominence, less dark concrete is chosen, and the courtyard then takes on a unique look rather than looking like the logical continuation of the parking lot.

For these schools, such a design proves more conducive to outdoor classes. In Quebec, during the month of June when the summer heat begins or in September when it still persists, it can be difficult to keep children's attention. Holding the class partially or entirely outdoors improves the physical well-being felt but also allows for a more dynamic pedagogy. In fact, greenery can even be a subject of study. For example, one school decided to plant ginkgo bilobas in its yard not only for their beauty but because this species coexisted with dinosaurs. A way to green up and address the issue of the first living species that lived before humans.

Mobilizing the community

Still, the greening project must appeal to school administrations and communities who will mostly see costs. Hence the importance of focusing the project and mobilizing the entire community ranging from school boards or academies to national and municipal jurisdictions. In some cases, such as the Marguerite-Bourgeoys school, it was the students themselves who requested a green schoolyard. With the help of their teachers, they went to the various players in their community to raise funding and transform the school environment.

Even Greener

What if this carried over to energy consumption? In the U.S., despite the fact that the fossil fuel industry is heavily promoted, many schools are thinking about using renewable energy sources. For example, 5,500 U.S. schools have installed solar panels on their roofs to partially meet their electricity needs. While California, the country's environmental pioneer, is leading the way with more than 2,000 schools, many others in other states less known for their sunshine are also participating. And the results are in. One school in an Indiana district saw its electricity bill drop by $140,000 in one year with the use of solar panels. So much so that the school administration is even thinking about eventually getting a wind turbine.

For their part, the states of Illinois and Vermont have announced a pilot project to develop electric school buses. California already has 150 of them, and studies tend to show that the battery life would be sufficient for each transport, plugging in the vehicle during the day when the children are at school. In Quebec, at least 60 electric school buses are already running and the goal is more than 200.  Out of a fleet of 8,000 school buses, there is room for progress!

Of course, none of this is free. While the price of solar power and electric vehicles is coming down, it's still a good investment in a school administration budget. The same goes for greening schoolyards. But the multiplication of these initiatives creates pressure on public and local authorities to encourage this shift, which, for the moment, seems to bring only good things both environmentally and pedagogically in the case of green schoolyards.

Illustration : Innviertlerin from Pixabay

References

The planet comes to school. Retrieved May 9, 2019. https://www.laplanetesinvitealecole.com/

Levée, Valerie. "Out, Kids!" OnePunchFive. Last updated  May 8, 2019. https://unpointcinq.ca/mieux-etre/salles-de-classe-plein-air/

Levée, Valerie. "Greening Of Schoolyard : 4 Islands Of Heat Transformed Into Islands Of Freshness And Happiness." 100°. Last updated : June 22, 2018.
https://centdegres.ca/magazine/amenagement/verdissement-cour-decole-4-ilots-chaleur-transformes-ilots-de-fraicheur-bonheur/

"School, Cancers Of Ecology? Pistes Pour 'verdir' L'enseignement." Rts.ch. Last updated : January 18, 2019.
https://www.rts.ch/info/suisse/10148211-l-ecole-cancre-de-l-ecologie-des-pistes-pour-verdir-l-enseignement.html

Robin, Jeanne. "Greening The Schoolyard : 6 Actors to Mobilize, 5 Steps to Achieve." 100°. Last updated : May 2, 2017.
https://centdegres.ca/magazine/amenagement/verdir-la-cour-decole-6-acteurs-mobiliser-5-etapes-realiser/

Tabuchi, Hiroko, Brad Plumer, John Schwartz, and Lisa Friedman. "What Are Schools Doing to Go Green?" The New York Times. Last updated : September 5, 2018.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/05/climate/what-are-schools-doing-to-go-green.html

The 100% electric school bus could have the wind in its sails...with a little political will - AVÉQ
https://www.aveq.ca/actualiteacutes/category/autobus-scolaire-electrique