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Earth Week initiative to aid environmental ed

State Sen. Kevin Shibilski, D-Stevens Point, announced Wednesday an Earth Week legislative initiative he calls the Environmental Education Renewal Act.

Reinstating a key environmental position in the Department of Public Instruction is one part of the proposal. Legislation he plans to sponsor would also call for a "report card on environmental literacy of K-12 students in Wisconsin."

These are part of a broader effort to give the Natural Resources Board the authority to appoint the DNR secretary. The governor now appoints the DNR secretary. It's also time to restore power to the public intervenor's post in state government, he said. That position was weakened at the same time the Legislature made the DNR secretary a political appointee in 1994. The DPI position was cut in the same year.

Speaking during a press conference at Schmeeckle Reserve, Shibilski said he will introduce legislation to improve environmental education in Wisconsin.

The state senator was joined by other environmental leaders, including representatives of the Wisconsin Environmental Education Board (WEEB) and the Wisconsin Association for Environmental Education (WAEE) in announcing the proposal.

"Earth Week reminds us of the vital need to provide comprehensive environmental education in the classroom," Shibilski said. "Our children will carry the torch of Wisconsin's conservation leadership into the 21st century."

Wisconsin currently requires school districts to develop, implement and evaluate environmental education curriculum plans. It was the first state in the nation to require training in environmental education as a condition of teacher certification.

Under the proposal, the position of Environmental Education Consultant in the DPI would be re-created. The legislation will also insure that the DPI collects information on the environmental literacy of Wisconsin's students as already legislatively required.

"It's so important that Wisconsin incorporate environmental literacy into the already mandated state assessments of K-12 students," said Rick Wilke, distinguished professor of environmental education at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. Wilke is a member of the Wisconsin Environmental Education Board.

"The DPI environmental education position will play a key role in accomplishing this. It is a modest proposal, but it's a new call to action for environmental education in Wisconsin," Wilke said.

Also voicing support was Kerry Eastman, representing the WAEE.
However, a recent survey indicates that nearly a quarter of the teachers surveyed this year said their school district does not have an environmental education plan and another 18 percent were unsure.

"That's unacceptable in a state with such a rich environmental heritage," Shibilski said. "We can do better, Wisconsin school districts want to do better, and reinstating this position will help make sure that we do, indeed, improve upon our efforts."

Wilke noted that while Wisconsin has been a national model for K-12 environmental education, some school districts are failing to meet state requirements.

He cited a recent survey conducted by a Graduate Research Seminar in the College of Natural Resources at UW-SP.

The survey was completed in December 1999. Among its findings:

• Forty percent of teachers surveyed said they were satisfied with their school district Environmental Education Curriculum Plan.

• Thirty-seven percent of K-12 curriculum coordinators surveyed indicated that their school districts didn't have an Environmental Education Curriculum Plan. Another 7 percent were uncertain.

• Eighty-five percent of teachers surveyed supported reinstating the Environmental Education Consultant position in the Department of Public Instruction.

• Seventy-nine percent of teachers surveyed said they believed reinstating the DPI position would assist them in implementing an Environmental Education Curriculum.

• Ninety-six percent of teachers surveyed said it is important to develop and implement an Environmental Education Curriculum Plan.

Wilke noted that a recent Roper Starch Worldwide Center poll showed that 96 percent of America's parents want environmental education taught to their children in K-12 schools.



	Earth Week initiative to aid environmental ed State Sen. Kevin Shibilski, D-Stevens Point, announced Wednesday an Earth Week legislative initiative he calls the Environmental Education Renewal Act. Reinstating a key environmental position in the Department of Public Instruction is one part of the proposal. Legislation he plans to sponsor would also call for a "report card on environmental literacy of K-12 students in Wisconsin." These are part of a broader effort to give the Natural Resources Board the authority to appoint the DNR secretary. The governor now appoints the DNR secretary. It's also time to restore power to the public intervenor's post in state government, he said. That position was weakened at the same time the Legislature made the DNR secretary a political appointee in 1994. The DPI position was cut in the same year. Speaking during a press conference at Schmeeckle Reserve, Shibilski said he will introduce legislation to improve environmental education in Wisconsin. The state senator was joined by other environmental leaders, including representatives of the Wisconsin Environmental Education Board (WEEB) and the Wisconsin Association for Environmental Education (WAEE) in announcing the proposal. "Earth Week reminds us of the vital need to provide comprehensive environmental education in the classroom," Shibilski said. "Our children will carry the torch of Wisconsin's conservation leadership into the 21st century." Wisconsin currently requires school districts to develop, implement and evaluate environmental education curriculum plans. It was the first state in the nation to require training in environmental education as a condition of teacher certification. Under the proposal, the position of Environmental Education Consultant in the DPI would be re-created. The legislation will also insure that the DPI collects information on the environmental literacy of Wisconsin's students as already legislatively required. "It's so important that Wisconsin incorporate environmental literacy into the already mandated state assessments of K-12 students," said Rick Wilke, distinguished professor of environmental education at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. Wilke is a member of the Wisconsin Environmental Education Board. "The DPI environmental education position will play a key role in accomplishing this. It is a modest proposal, but it's a new call to action for environmental education in Wisconsin," Wilke said. Also voicing support was Kerry Eastman, representing the WAEE. However, a recent survey indicates that nearly a quarter of the teachers surveyed this year said their school district does not have an environmental education plan and another 18 percent were unsure. "That's unacceptable in a state with such a rich environmental heritage," Shibilski said. "We can do better, Wisconsin school districts want to do better, and reinstating this position will help make sure that we do, indeed, improve upon our efforts." Wilke noted that while Wisconsin has been a national model for K-12 environmental education, some school districts are failing to meet state requirements. He cited a recent survey conducted by a Graduate Research Seminar in the College of Natural Resources at UW-SP. The survey was completed in December 1999. Among its findings: • Forty percent of teachers surveyed said they were satisfied with their school district Environmental Education Curriculum Plan. • Thirty-seven percent of K-12 curriculum coordinators surveyed indicated that their school districts didn't have an Environmental Education Curriculum Plan. Another 7 percent were uncertain. • Eighty-five percent of teachers surveyed supported reinstating the Environmental Education Consultant position in the Department of Public Instruction. • Seventy-nine percent of teachers surveyed said they believed reinstating the DPI position would assist them in implementing an Environmental Education Curriculum. • Ninety-six percent of teachers surveyed said it is important to develop and implement an Environmental Education Curriculum Plan. Wilke noted that a recent Roper Starch Worldwide Center poll showed that 96 percent of America's parents want environmental education taught to their children in K-12 schools.