The Green School Movement
Who wants to learn in a poorly designed, stuffy classroom with fluorescent lighting and limited time outside?
Green Schools are designed to overcome these issues and provide so many benefits to our learners such as fresh air, open, wall-less classrooms built from bamboo, incredible views, nature and natural daylight. Which child wouldn’t love going to a school like that?
Green Schools are a global education network committed to making our world sustainable. They inspire and engage students with environmental issues that are impacting our world and value preparing our children for the real challenges that lie ahead, creating empowered citizens and leaders in order to make a meaningful and significant shift towards sustainable communities.
You can find these innovative schools in Bali, South Africa, New Zealand and another in Tulum in Mexico opening soon. Other schools doing amazing things for the environment include ones in Australia, Hong Kong as well as Uaso Nyiro Primary in Kenya.
The syllabus has an emphasis on three pillars; reduced environmental impact, increased health and wellbeing, and increased environmental and sustainability literacy for all graduates which includes activity and movement throughout the day, a healthy lunch program, environmental literacy and problem-solving, veggie patch, recycling, and most importantly a student led Eco committees that guide schools practices.
The Bamboo School in Bali is set in the jungle near Ubud and has a reputation for turning our young ones into environmental changemakers. With learning how to grow their own food, climbing trees, collecting chicken eggs, mud play and leaving your shoes at the door, all part of the curriculum, who else is keen to move to Bali?
If moving overseas is not an option, the importance of educating our learners in best practices is just as important, today more than ever. Students can become aware of the stresses our planet is facing and how sustainable living can make a difference to our lives, through the Green Lane Diary program which is a great resource.
If I was young, single and free this would definitely be on the cards. What an incredible experience! For those also who are interested and ready to pack their bags either for their children’s sake or are ready to make the move to teach in one of these fascinating Green Schools you can find out more information at greenschool.org
What an incredible experience to prepare our learners in becoming leaders in the sustainability movement. What do you think of the concept of Green Schools? We would love it if you joined the conversation and comment below.
