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America Needs Environmental Education

Our nation is grappling with complicated environmental issues that affect all of us as well as generations to come. It is more critical than ever that U.S. schools provide students with a solid environmental education. However, many schools are scaling back or eliminating their EE programs because of the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB).

We can stop this from happening and on the right track to do so. On September 18th, the House of Representatives passed the No Child Left Inside Act to improve our nation's ability to prepare future leaders for the environmental realities of the 21st century.

You can also reach your senators and let them know what you think. Send an email as part of EDN's national campaign to ensure No Child is Left Inside. Learn more about NCLB and U.S. environmental education at www.eeNCLB.org.

GUIDANCE for STEP 2, constructing the letter: We have provided a sample Letter to the Editor which you can edit directly, OR delete the proposed text and write a fully custom letter.

Step 1 - Select a Recipient

Letter to the Editor

The Letter to the Editor Section is one of the most widely read sections of the newspaper and can reach a large audience. It allows community members to comment on the way issues are being addressed in the media and to influence the topics the local paper may choose to cover. Elected officials often monitor this section of the newspaper and take notice of constituents' opinions.

We've made it easy for you to contact your local newspaper with your views, but editors want to hear from you in your own words.

Step 2 - Write your message

Subject:

Your Letter:

Our schools must prepare young people for a future grappling with increasingly complex environmental issues such as global climate change, air and water pollution, and the loss of ecologically sensitive habitat.  Environmental literacy require students to have a solid background in math, reading, science, AND environmental education.

Unfortunately, more and more schools leave environmental education behind due to pressure to focus exclusively on the narrow curriculum mandated by the No Child Left Behind Act.  Concentrating on standardized tests covering only a few subjects deprives students of the valuable experiences of a broad curriculum that includes hands-on field experiences.

There is hope in the proposed No Child Left Inside Act (NCLI).  This bill expands the National Environmental Education Act to provide crucial funding and support to outdoor and environmental education.

On September 18th, The House of Representatives passed the NCLI Act with strong bipartisan support. Now it’s time for the Senate to follow that lead. As parents, teachers, students or just members of our communities, we need to unite to grant a better education – and future – for all our nation’s children.

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