CLIMATE CHANGE CURRICULUM
The need to implement climate change education at MVHS is more important now than ever BY SARAH LIU
C
limate change is part of the texts about climate science and write from greenhouse gases caused by core curriculum of three MVHS persuasive essays about next steps to human activities are responsible for courses: freshman Biology, AP combat the issue. Equipping students the 1.1 degree Celsius increase in Biology and AP Environmental Science. with not just the scientific aspect of an global heating since the early 1900s, a Yet, only one of these courses is issue, but also real ways in which to number that is expected to rise another required for graduation. address that issue as both a consumer 2.4 degrees Celsius at least. The consequences of In a world where our generation will and voter, will better climate change shoulder the burden of mitigating the allow us to catalyze real EQUIPPING STUDENTS are being felt on effects of a rapidly warming climate, change. WITH REAL WAYS IN every continent. it is crucial that we are educated on The need to WHICH TO ADDRESS While we may climate issues. We will have to be implement this much not yet feel the knowledgeable about actions we new climate material THAT ISSUE AS direct impacts should take in order to combat the into MVHS curricula BOTH A CONSUMER because we have consequences of a global temperature may sound extreme, AND VOTER, WILL the privilege that is expected to rise 14% in the next but it isn’t rash –– it’s BETTER ALLOW US TO of living in this nine years, according to the COP26 necessary. Recently at CATALYZE CHANGE. area, we have discussions. This reinforces the need the 26th UN Climate already been to implement climate change education Conference, a meeting into more curricula at MVHS. for delegates representing countries affected by related phenomena like Climate change education should around the world to discuss climate increased droughts and wildfires. not be limited to our science courses strategies for the future, the countries Although fluctuating weather patterns — rather, we should provide resources agreed on the need to “phase down may not impact our day to day lives, a in various courses to equip students unabated coal” — a watered-down chain of cause-and-effect events can with the broad scope variation of trigger longer lasting — and deadlier — of knowledge they a previous consequences. We need to provide as many will need in the agreement future. For example, that called resources as possible to ensure we can spend for the need students are educated on crucial time researching to “phase climate issues and prepare them to organizations and out” these live sustainably. Consider this: before a companies with fossil fuels. Biology test, a student needs to know sustainable practices D e c i s i o n s all the material to pass. And the biggest in Economics. In like these, test of our generation is coming — a test believe current climate change history classes, we a l t h o u g h that threatens the well-being of people education is insufficient. can explore the disappointing, around the globe if we fail. *According to a survey of 145 people varying impacts that are not historical events had surprising. We on the surrounding are running out environment as well as the history of time, and while world leaders have the of environmental racism. In English luxury to make deals they won’t revisit classes, we can use our rhetorical until years later, we don’t. According analysis skills to deconstruct non-fiction to the latest IPCC report, emissions
76%
of MVHS students
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EL ESTOQUE | DECEMBER 2021
ILLUST
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| APRIL
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