November 23, 2004

Learning to learn

Spent time yesterday out on the river, taking home-schooled children to the river to observe the Fall Chinook spawning. Five adult vols with the North Umpqua Foundation http://www.northumpqua.org/ and several moms* joined 17 youth aged 4 to 14 relating water quality, bugs, fish and riparian area (the land adjacent to the river) to life. The site was Cow Creek in the South Umpqua - getting kids used to the idea that rotting fish carcasses carry nutrients to the landscape is just part of the overall process of learning about our natural resources. We also visited the site of a train derailment that spilled 4500 gallons of diesel into the river, along with several railcars of lumber.

The kids had some really good questions. Like how much diesel do the booms actually catch? Or what happens to all that wood lying by the stream? Who owns the wood - will it wash down Cow Creek when it starts to rain? (It always rains good in Oregon - November through June) Hope the DEQ and the railroad can provide the public with some answers.

Redile - research directed learning environments - allow youth to enter into learning at their current level of ability. Somewhere between 5th and 8th grade, children lose their natural curiosity and become convinced that science is difficult. We must stop this. Science is an approach to life, not a topic. Never stop asking the questions if you are not satisfied with the answers that you receive.

* Dads - you don't know what you are missing by not taking the time off from work to do things with your children. The kids are where it's at - much more worthy of your time and effort than a boss and a cubicle. Family leave is for building the future - use it and get in touch with your family.

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