Comments on: Dealing with the Schools: Coping as a Green Mom

By: Organic and Green Mom Blog | Green Moms & Public Schools: Top 10 Green School Projects – Pick One! at Organic Mania

Tue, 31 Aug 2010 03:48:59 +0000

[...] healthiest products for home cleaning and only the freshest, local, organic and sustainable foods, it can be hard to cope when you discover your local “green” school doesn’t seem so green, particularly when compared [...]

By: Mitzy

Mitzy — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 22:23:10 +0000

Lynn, I work in the Rockwood School District outside of St. Louis, MO. You can visit the district website at http://www.rockwood.k12.mo.us on “Going Green”. A lot of our buildings suggestions come from the Parent Club’s. To go along with the no extrinsic rewards, the teacher’s did not recieve winter gifts from the PTA this year. All of that money that would normally have been given to the teachers, was donated to local charities in Chesterfield’s name. There are too many positive examples of leadership that I could rattle on about. Also, over winter break, I am reading a book called, “Mid-Scale Vermicomposting of Lunchroom Wastes” by Binet Payne. Hopefully we will soon begin implementing vermicomposting. Have a happy holiday.

By: Mitzy

Mitzy — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 13:56:05 +0000

I was curious if any of your concerns have been addressed since your posting? I stumbled upon the site this morning and have not had an opportunity to read all topics. At my school (sorry if I overlap someone elses comments), we are piloting an all wide district (19 elementaries plus all of the other buildings) single stream recycling. Implemented in all buildings the recycling of paper, aluminum, plastic, metals and cardboards. We have two containers on site and the fifth graders come around and dump weekly for all classes. We have a seperate paper recycling day for that container. We also limit paper required communication. Most communication is done via e-mail. Our curriulum is on CD’s. We allow for no extrinisic rewards (especially candy since it does not meet DESE health standards) and we have a different philosophy with fundraisers. Instead of having a pizza pary for meeting a special goal, we set a goal and if it was met, we would adopt a monkey at the local zoo for a year (jungle was the fundraiser theme). We do not advertise spirit days for a dollar donation, donating should be natural and encouraged without an extrinisic reward. We have Club Hope, where the Humane Society comes by monthly and teaches various lessons. We have various service learning projects. In class meetings, my class is discussing starting vermicomposting (we are in the research phase). The worm castings would be used in our Hope Garden. I have worked in other districts where these opportunties were not considered, but aren’t we here to teach our children how to be better informed citizens for the best of the entire Earth? These are just a few reasons why my school is considered to be a National School of Character, a responsibility we greatly take on. I hope this gives you a few ideas.

Mitzy, thanks so much for leaving this great input. Wow! Where do you live? It sounds like a very progressive area. I’d love to learn more, and will plan to bring some of these ideas to our school system! — Lynn

By: GGTD

GGTD — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 22:05:28 +0000

I would definitely write down a list of everything that is bothering you and then pick 3 things that you think are most important to you and tackle those first. You’ll probably find that a lot of things that have a strong emotion (wasteful rewards for doing well) may not be the biggest way to make a difference.

If you can, try to choose things that simply stand out as wrong and think about why they are currently doing it, from their perspective, not your own. If you can do that, you’ll probably make quick work of those bad practices they’re currently taking part in.

By: Easy Green Weekend Project #4: Learning about Creeks at Organic Mania

Easy Green Weekend Project #4: Learning about Creeks at Organic Mania — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 05:15:36 +0000

[...] recovered from back-to-school Green Mom Culture Shock, I’ve been struggling to keep it together as a single Mom this week while DH has been away [...]

By: Expat Chef

Expat Chef — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 14:04:15 +0000

I hear you on the lollipops, been fighting the “candy as a reward” thing REPEATEDLY. Also found out yesterday that, despite packing a healthy lunch for my child EVERY day, the staff gives her seconds on HOT DOGS AND COMMERCIAL BEEF even as I have asked them not to. It ain’t easy bein’ green. You raise issues and they look at you like you are insane. I hear you!

Hi Beth, thanks for stopping by! Yeah, I now understand why the hippies lived on communes in the ’60s. Can you imagine what it was like back then when people talked about “health food” like it was something strange? — Lynn

By: Kristen

Kristen — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 01:04:47 +0000

Hi Lynn – I’ve been thinking about this issue a great deal in the past 10 days because my older child just started school.

On the first day, the parents had an orientation and we got to meet one another and discuss the upcoming school year. Naturally the conversation turned to our basic parenting practices. When I mentioned that I don’t feed my children sugar, I got a few raised eyebrows. When I said that they don’t watch TV, at least not by design, I heard a few head snaps and another parent quickly changed the subject. At that point, I was terrified to go down the organic food path discussion.

I have no idea where this all is going or how I’m going to handle the first round of junk food snacks or environmentally unfriendly supplies donation request. I had forgotten that I was living in a Green Bubble and frankly, it’s rather disappointing to learn that I’m in the minority, at least at my school. I hope that other readers offer some constructive ideas.

Hi Kristen, thanks so much for sharing. I think that together we’ll come up with lots of ideas, because there are so many of us now going through this together! I know for sure I’ll be blogging lots more about this! — Lynn

By: Sue

Sue — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 12:51:18 +0000

It takes quite a bit of time, energy and dedication to get green into mainstream. I know, I’ve been working since high school on some of these issues. I’m so glad you are willing to offer your time and energy for the cause. What to work on first…you could start small where you will see the biggest rewards early on like with your sons’ teacher. Having a honest and friendly discussion with school faculty on reward systems is an easy win. For example, my school offers rewards in terms of activities only (no treats, no plastic!). Through parent involvement and encouragement, we now have a sticker chart where students earn activities such as lunch with a teacher or even horseback riding with the vice principal! It’s motivating for the kids and I love that my teachers will spend their lunch hour reading and talking with my son or daughter.

I have to tell you that I thought of you and your blog last week as I sat in a federal meeting and was offered FAIR TRADE COFFEE in ECO FRIENDLY COFFEE CUPS.

I wish you the best of luck as you work to reform your school and school system one child at a time.

Sue – what great stories! Thanks for sharing. I imagine that through the Green Committee at the school, we’ll have plenty of opportunities to make progress. I love the approach your school took to rewards! — Lynn