It is very important for community institutions that have a direct impact on student lives to support environmental issues.
In order for students to understand and care about the complex challenges that our planet is facing, teenagers should not only be taught about the science behind climate change, they should also see their school as a model of responsible and eco-freindly behavior.
Generations of young Americans spend their teenage years in high school. Since many habits are fostered during these years, high school should be a place where students learn how to live in a way that is environmentally sound.
High school is focused on building a sense of individual accountability in students and giving them the skills necessary to become an asset to the rest of society.
Part of this includes learning environmental responsibility.
Schreiber has definitely begun to promote environmental awareness and add new environmentally friendly programs to the school community.
After the Treehuggers club installed the first hydration station in the lobby, many students began to have increased awareness of the need to decrease the useage of plastic water bottles.
Plus, many have realized the economic incentives (free water!) that using the hydration station provides.
The school decided to fund another hydration station that was recently placed on the lower level and hopes to also install hydration stations in the cafeteria and on the upper level of the school building.
The installation of the hydration station is a solid expansion of the school’s commitment to teaching students to cut down on practices that are harmful to the environment.
“Anyone of us who believe that the Earth has an inexhaustible supply of resources is just fooling themselves,” said senior Jamie Sall.
By decreasing the usage of plastic water bottles in school, the school is greatly helping the environment. Every bit goes a long way.
Although Schreiber should be commended for its efforts in recycling, it is clear that the program has room for improvement.
There are often rooms that are missing bins or that only have one of the appropriate bins.
Students frequently throw their bottles into the paper bin or vice versa, and while the school can not be held accountable for this, they should create some sort of program to emphasize the need for the bins and to instruct students on how to use them properly.
“We could do better with recycling,” said Assistant Principal Mr. Craig Weiss. “I often wonder if the items that leave my office in two bins will end up in one.”
The school has made great strides in making environmental issues a priority.
In order to continue to ensure that students do their part in trying to reduce the negative impact that they have on the environment, the school should invest more of its resources into further developing environmental programs.