Petition is addressed to: mayor Kate Snyder

The school board has decided that schools are able to choose their own 5th special. "Garden" has been a special at a number of the schools over the past 5 years. The students love having this special and with the model this year, more general environmental education is also included in the work of the Environmental Literacy Teacher. Additionally, the ELT teacher SY 23-24 assisted with teaching the outdoor components of the Wabanaki Studies curriculum. This curriculum is well thought out and aid students in not only understanding but creating a relationship with the land upon which they live. Students thrive being outdoors. They take time to feel at peace, feel calm and learn more about the flora and fauna around them. Keeping Environmental Literacy as an essential class that all students from K-5 attend once a week create equity as well. Having a connection with the outdoors gives students tools for supporting their own learning, as well as growing up in a complex world. Other than recess, there is not much time for classroom teachers to bring students outdoors. With Environmental Education as the 5th essential class, our young students will be more prepared to face the very real challenges of the modern world with tact and creativity.