I share the contempt for soft in the sense of sham (for which all
too many courses, degrees, and institutions qualify), but ecology (we
should not be forced to qualify the term, for example, as not
referring to the ecology, whatever that is, or saving beer cans and
mulching xmas trees) should be taught in the primary grades as a
required subject, and in (ugh!) junior high school, high school,
and at least the first year of any university course of
study. BECAUSE, simply, that ecology is connected to everything
else, and its expansion to its ultimate potential, for those who
really want it, requires readin', writin', 'n 'rithmetic, and just
about any subject one can name (even music, art history, real
basket-weaving and other sub disciplines).
Since study of anything necessarily involves discipline, that should
come first. It is the job of teachers to expose the young to the
passion of learning, to set an example, and speak, not with
conviction but in terms of excitement about The Quest! Universities,
mentors, and others who would be teachers should simply reject those
who, with or without the benefit of a secondary education, who
lack the motivation to work hard, but accept them back when they
change their minds. But if teachers at the primary and secondary
levels are permitted to set the example of passion for all learning,
any lack of enthusiasm on the part of those entering university
(check the etymology) there will be little need to leave any person
(short of those damaged souls with real limited abilities who should
get extra care) behind.
We, society, any culture, should shy from inculcating, but embrace,
with all our being, the idea of universal and lifetime learning
(univers-ity) for all who really want it, just for the thrill of
it! To do otherwise is to fail humankind and all life. To abandon
the Quest is not just fanning the flames of our collective suicide,
but the survival of the life forms for which we have inherited
responsibility.
There is nothing soft about that task, but neither is it
hard. It is simply a responsibility--and a privilege and a joy.
Pardon my soapbox--I try hard to avoid this, but something about this
email pushed me over the edge.
WT
At 04:36 AM 11/20/2007, James J. Roper wrote:
In many schools, environmental science is soft ecology and the
environment. I actually attended a graduate level seminar course called
the philosophy of ecology - only to discover I was the only student in th=
e
class who knew what the definition of ecology was - the rest thought of it
as either environmental sciences or tree hugging 101. My suggestion wa=
s
that the students need a lower level course that reinforces their knowledge
to get them to a level for a real ecology course.
Cheers,
Jim
On Nov 19, 2007 6:24 PM, Kelly Stettner [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote=
:
So, if the students do not have that background, then I think you are
wasting your time teaching ecology and what you should be teaching is
environmental studies. That could easily be geared to unprepared
undergrads, and could fill in some of those voids that you mentioned your
students have.
Cheers,
Jim
Yikes! As a self-teaching student with Vermont College myself, I am
cringing at the thought of an unprepared undergrad attempting to grasp
environmental studies WITHOUT a solid understanding of multi-disciplinary
ecology. I am finding that too many of my fellow students are single-min=
ded
and wholly without any concept of basic scientific principles or methods.
They are feeling with their emotions instead of thinking with their brai=
ns.
That, in my opinion, sets the stage for disaster -- truly caring people =
out
there attempting to fix nature's problems with solutions that cause
worse problems than before. All in the name of The Environment...and no
science in sight. No geology, climate history, basic chemistry or physic=
s
or thermodynamics.
In other words, as a student, I do not consider myself a responsible
scientists unless and until I realize that each question I answer leads t=
o
more questions.
Respectfully,
Kelly Stettner, Director
Black River Action Team
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Black River Action Team (BRAT)
45 Coolidge Road
Springfield, VT 05156
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
http://www.blackriveractionteam.org
~Making ripples on the Black River since 2000! ~
-
Be a better pen pal. Text or chat with friends inside Yahoo! Mail. See
how.
--=20
James J. Roper, Ph.D.
Ecologia e Din=E2micas Populacionais
de Vertebrados Terrestres
Caixa Postal 19034
81531-990 Curitiba, Paran=E1, Brasil
E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Telefone: 55 41 33857249
Mobile: 55 41 99870543
http://www.bio.ufpr.br/ecologia/ Ecologia e Conserva=E7=E3o na UFPR
http://jjroper.googlespages.com Personal Pages
