Here is another interesting item from the 2012 Annual Meeting and Representative Assembly of the National Education Association (NEA):

B-49. ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION

The National Education Association believes that the environment must be protected. The Association urges the establishment and maintenance of federal wilderness areas, recreational areas, refuge areas, and designated local green areas. The Association supports educational programs that promote—

  1. The concept of the interdependence of humanity and nature
  2. An awareness of the effects of past, present, and future population growth patterns on world civilization, human survival, and the environment
  3. The protection of endangered, threatened, and rare species
  4. The protection of the Earth’s finite resources
  5. Solutions to environmental problems such as nonrenewable resource depletion, pollution, global warming, ozone depletion, and acid precipitation and deposition
  6. The use of reusable and recyclable products and discourage the use of disposable products, especially reducing single-use plastic
  7. An understanding of energy, alternative energy sources, and energy conservation
  8. The use of disposal methods that do not contaminate the environment, including on-site food composting to build soil for school gardens
  9. The recognition of and participation in such activities as Earth Day, Arbor Day, and Energy Education Day
  10. The understanding of the value of the world’s ecosystems through Ecoliteracy on the promotion of sustainable practices
  11. The integration of outdoor education into pre-K through 12 curricula. Outdoor education should include a component that occurs in the outdoor environment
  12. The understanding of our petroleum-based industrial food system and alternatives for sustainable agriculture
  13. Appropriate vocational training to prepare secondary students for careers in the Green Jobs sector to build a sustainable society.

The Association also believes that it should model in its policies and practices the environmental concepts and education programs it supports. The Association also urges its affiliates to model and support environmental programs in school systems and educational institutions and supports legislation and local policies that ensure a safe and healthy environment.

I wonder if they plan to consider alternative points of view about the environment and sustainability. Ha!