New law could shape how climate change is taught in New York schools
By Chloe Bennett
Several educators from the North Country are supporting a bill to expand climate education in New York classrooms.
Introduced by Sen. Andrew Gounardes, D-Brooklyn, and Assembly member JoAnne Simon, D-Brooklyn, the new legislation would direct teachers to prepare and instruct science, adaptation and career-focused lessons on climate change. Although students receive some climate education in public schools, many environmentalists and teachers say the instruction doesn’t measure up to the severity of the global issue.
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“This is where New York state is failing its students. Because it’s not engaging them in one of the most important issues that’s facing them.”
Joe Henderson, associate professor, Paul Smith’s College
Joe Henderson, a Paul Smith’s professor who serves on the Saranac Lake Board of Education, signed a letter of support for the legislation. Other Adirondack Park educators including Curt Stager, climate scientist and professor at Paul Smith’s College, Jen Kretser, director of climate initiatives for the Wild Center, and Saranac Lake High School teacher Kelsey Francis also signed on.
The bill would expand classroom climate education to include concepts other than science and integrate them into several subjects. English, social studies, health and mathematics could incorporate the topic, the bill states.
Climate education is a tool for solutions, the United Nations says, that can motivate young people and boost optimism for mitigation. Other states in recent years have expanded climate education in public schools to address the issue. In 2020, New Jersey became the first state to require climate education across most subjects.
Emily Fano, senior manager of climate resilience education with the National Wildlife Federation, is leading support of the climate legislation with the Climate and Resilience Education Task Force, made up of several environment and education organizations.
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“Our kids are telling us that they’re desperate for this education and they really deserve it,” Fano said. “They deserve to be informed about what’s happening around them.”
“They see it all around them,” she added. “They’re living through it.”
New York climate education bills have circulated in the past without success. Henderson said without a holistic approach to the topic, like the kind the new bill lays out, students lose critical information and themes surrounding climate change.
“Young people are correctly massively concerned about this,” he said. “It’s going to be one of the dominant forces that is shaping their lives and their future.”
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The bill, which has a version in both the Senate and Assembly, is currently in its respective committees. Assemblyman Matt Simpson, R-Horicon, said he plans to look over the bill following an inquiry.
At top: Adirondack Youth Climate Summit participants hold an ”I Am Pro Snow” rally at Mount Van Hoevenberg in 2016. Explorer file photo by Mike Lynch
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Yeah, here we go again…..Indoctrinate the young: Prepare them to live a life of misery because climate change demands it. Well, why not tell them what comes after all their “adjustments”. Climate will/may change, but we need not suffer because of it. Ahhh, but the Greenies must prevail. Please, please note that Chicken Little died!
Good idea. Most people now rely on artificial climate. Unlike some generations past where it was easily recognized because folks lived it. Climate change was readily experienced and talked about when people lived closer to nature. One of many historical references would be the Leatherstocking tales of J.F.C., wherein he describes the change in climate the settlers dealt with after the massive clearcuts of old growth pine in the north country 1700’s. Everyone could connect the dots then pretty easily. The same experience based knowledge today could only come from turning off the AC/Heat in every major city and eliminating government maintenance & emergency services. Probably better to just teach about it, regardless of the push-back.
The new New York State climate education bill is exciting to me as a climate change educator because it is so comprehensive and interdisciplinary. This bill goes beyond proposals to adjust state education standards– it is looking at how we can holistically align public school climate change education for p-12 students with the bold targets of our state’s Climate Act. Right now, if students are getting any climate change education at all in school, it is usually in the science classroom. I believe climate change is a complex problem that needs interdisciplinary solutions, which means integrating age-appropriate climate content into every grade level and subject.
As a school science teacher I support this bill. While climate change is part of the science curriculum in NYS, it is a very limited part. I think science classes should all cover this in more detail and other subjects should cover it as well. This is a major issue and it should be covered in a major way. This is a multifaceted issue and therefore requires multidisciplinary coverage!
A family member who is a teacher in a non-science area was recently awarded a fellowship as part of the project the state of Maine has undertaken to advance education of climate change. Kudos to the lawmakers who are trying to improve the future for all through the education of our youth.
Judging from the comments above its know wonder why there’s a surge in home-schooling. Good for them. So glad my kids graduated years ago.
Two out of seven comments (~30%) are worried about climate change being a sham. Whether it is the green washed products or threat of taxation to our auto infrastructure/ economy, we are poised with the data of CO2 levels rising with our exhaust. There are great examples of regulatory success altering the outcome of the resources that extend beyond our state boundaries, like CFC reduction reducing the hole in the ozone, or removing lead from gasoline which is correlated with reducing murder rates in NYC. Thankfully coal fired power plants from the states West of NY are no longer spewing SO2 our way, reducing acid rain and allowing NY’s sensitive fisheries/watersheds recover. The history of how the Adirondack park formed is pretty cool, and it makes NY standout from any other state. We have more Wilderness than any state East of the Mississippi River, and it is because of our article 14 of our state constitution. The past two years I have taught students outdoor ed in SoCal and for so many students it was their first time going for a hike! this bill could be extended to outdoor education, similar to CA’s Outdoor Equity Grants Program.