The following is a forwarded message. Please note that the author is suzanne michel ([EMAIL PROTECTED]), not me (Stefanie). Happy reading! Stefanie/ECOFEM Co-ordinator ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- hi, i just glanced through my ecofem digest, and was thrilled to see some discussion concerning the politics of environmental education of children. i have just finished some research concerning project wildlife and raptor education in public schools. my question is project wildlife funded by large corporations? my impression from at least the grass roots perspective is not really or directly. the people i have worked with are barely getting by in rehabilitation costs and costs to keep injured birds of prey (those animals with irrepairable injuries) in captivity for education purposes. although i have not read Van Matre's book - i will defend to a point the environmental education because at least again from my "grass roots" perspective gains made for animals in the "official" political public spheres are minimal --- and there seems to be a definite need for people to become connected with their local ecosystems. education with birds of prey are one such avenue -- it allows people to become (even notice) materially connected with the plight of disappearing wildlife. BUT i will also say that educating the kids is to a point a political manipulation -- are the children presented with other perspectives (besides the biocentric one) in these classrooms? are the children able to understand that these sessions are political? can children be critically aware of the messages sent to them during these classroom sessions? i would love to hear personally from anyone who is interested in this topic, or who has done some work with project wildlife! suzanne michel univ of colorado at boulder dept of geography
