California Educator

April/May 2022

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S T U D E N T S A T Salmon Creek Middle School in Occidental are well aware that climate change poses a threat to humankind. Since 2017, Sonoma County residents have been evacuated six times due to fires and f looding related to global warming. When students learn the science of what is happening to their community and their planet, it's traumatic, says sixth grade teacher Park Guthrie, a member of Harmony Union Teachers Association. Some students become upset; oth- ers pretend not to care or make jokes to protect themselves psychologically. "But no matter how they react to this terrible realization, all of the kids have the same ques- tion. ey all ask why," Guthrie says. "ey want to know why adults haven't taken care of this, why we are still investing in fossil fuels, and why we are still having debates about climate change." His students have a reason to point fingers. USA Today reports that people under 40 will experience an "unprecedented life" of disasters including more heatwaves, droughts, wildfires, flooding and crop failures — all related to global warming. A September 2021 study by the Yale Program on Climate Change Communications shows that the majority of parents believe it's important for their children to learn more about climate change. e study also reports that teachers need more training and support to implement climate change instruction in the classroom. More resources are coming Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill last July allocat- ing $6 million to create education resources on climate change and environmental justice. e landmark legisla- tion will provide free, standards-based curricular resources to all Teaching climate change takes on new urgency amid catastrophes By Sherry Posnick-Goodwin Can Students Save Earth in Time? Students with Schools for Climate Action in Washington, D.C., in 2018. 16 cta.org Park Guthrie Feature

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