Integrated Flood Management

April 1, 1982 Resolutions

Number: 1982-08

 

WHEREAS, a quality environment is essential for leading a full, productive, happy life; and

WHEREAS, informed, educated citizens, committed to the wise stewardship of the land and its resources, are key to maintaining environmental quality; and

WHEREAS, conservation education in our schools, integrated throughout the curriculum, is the major long-term means for establishing citizen awareness and understanding of the importance of a quality environment; and

WHEREAS, for conservation education to become a meaningful part of the curriculum of our nation’s schools its importance must be emphasized at the State Department of Education level; and

WHEREAS, to ensure the establishment and continuation of conservation education in our schools there must be state policy level commitments of resources to instructional programs; and

WHEREAS, many states have established or are establishing effective conservation education programs in their schools;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the National Wildlife Federation, in annual meeting assembled March 17-20, 1983, in Albuquerque, New Mexico, hereby recommends that each state establish a minimum commitment to conservation education which will support the following:

  1. A legislative or appropriate administrative requirement mandating instruction in the wise use of our natural resources and protection of environmental quality in all appropriate grades of subject areas, kindergarten through grade 12.
  2. A designated, full-time staff person in the State Department of Education to provide conservation education leadership and services to local education agencies and jurisdictions.
  3. A commitment of resources necessary to conduct effective state and local level programs in conservation education.
  4. A commitment to setting up lines of communication which will ensure widespread public and professional support for such programs. Agencies or groups to be involved should include, but not be limited to, Federation affiliates, state and federal resource management agencies, representatives of higher education, business and industry, and citizen conservation organizations in order to establish more effective conservation programs for students.
  5. A commitment at the state level to adequately train undergraduate and in-service teachers to meet their responsibilities for providing effective conservation education programs for their students; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the National Wildlife Federation recommends that appropriate state elected or appointed officials and/or legislative bodies take action as may be necessary to meet these minimum standards where need exists.