The Coal Industry in America's Classrooms

(cross posted at Moms Clean Air Force)

A few weeks ago, I wrote a post about Scholastic's short lived curriculum, intended for fourth graders, entitled The United States of Energy.  The American Coal Foundation paid thousands of dollars for Scholastic to generate and promote a curriculum (read:  propaganda) that promoted coal and didn't list one problem with this harmful and dangerous energy source. Thankfully, the good folks at the Campaign for a Commercial Free Childhood started a campaign to end this intrusion into the hearts and minds of our students.  The curriculum was pulled, and the practice of corporate driven curriculum is being reviewed by Scholastic.

Now, here is an article from the Washington Post about how the coal industry continues to forward its agenda in America's classrooms, particularly in the areas around coal mining and production.  As a teacher and parent, I find this article upsetting, but not surprising.  

The gist of the article is that industry supplies what is dwindling most in our public education system:  money. Grants and awards to teachers are common.  These are lovely if they are truly altruistic, and without strings.  That doesn't seem to be the case here.  Take this quote for example:

"In the Appalachian mining communities of Kentucky, Virginia and West Virginia, the Coal Education Development and Resources foundation, known as CEDAR, offers small grants to teachers whose lessons dovetail with its industry-driven mission.

The school system and the coal industry have honored Bright Laney’s work. She was named CEDAR’s state teacher of the year in 2006 and 2009, winning a $1,000 award each time. Last year, the Interstate Mining Compact Commission named her its national teacher of the year, showering her with free educational products. "

Industry-driven mission.  What a profound phrase. How it has made its way into our classrooms without much notice, is astounding.  As a teacher, you can smell curriculum like this a mile away.  I've seen a few in my decade of teaching.  Interest groups like pro-hunting, pro-gun ownership and pro-clear cutting (or "managed" forests).  These curricula may even have some redeeming educational qualities, but about halfway through, you see the opinion and unbalanced bias like you smell a skunk on the highway.  Then after reviewing the movie, book or kit, I shake my head and put it back on the shelf. 

Not all of America's teachers put them back on the shelf.  Or they fear they can't.  Of course there is some bias in most everything. But isn't it our job, as the teacher, to present the most balanced, researched, and factual information possible?  To debate, engage, and cite? 

CEDAR takes it a step farther in a video for teachers, called (of all things) “The Greening of Planet Earth.” According to the article, one quote from the movie says, “our world is deficient in carbon dioxide, and a doubling of atmospheric CO2 is very beneficial.” That has been widely disputed by world scientists.

Now that the majority of scientists have made clear with data, studies, and reports, the reality of global warming as a "controversy" has started to die. It's just what many of our politicians do, that changes perceptions. If they keep saying global warming doesn't exist, then people will believe them.

And that is exactly what is happening in the classroom. We need to be raising creative, critical thinking, problem solvers, that can face the increasingly complex challenges our society faces. We don't need industry mucking up what should be a balanced curriculum that teaches students about issues, with perspective taking, reasoned logic, and problem solving as the goal.

The article also states that the same process is playing out with fracking.  The natural gas companies that stand to make millions from fracking are pushing curriculum supporting the positives to this toxic and polluting process of natural gas extracting.  This next battle will be for the health of the very water we all drink.

What do you think?  Should industry driven curricula drive instruction in your child's school?

Please join the Moms Clean Air Force to help us fight for clean air for our kids.   We need your voice and support! If you haven't already, please email the EPA to show your support of the new Mercury and Air Toxics rule.  Thank you!

image:  New York Times

Eco-friendly strollers that are safe for your baby and the environment

(I'm happy to share this guest post from reader and freelance writer, Joanna Kwan.  I just had a question from a reader about how to reduce exposure to the flame retardants that exist in most baby gear (which I reported about  last week).  The last two stroller manufacturers don't use brominated flame retardants so they are a great way to limit this exposure.  I wish I had this information when my girls were infants.


Update:  June 8, 2011.  Reader Kevin just alerted me that one of Orbit's car seats (the Infant carrier Mocha) tested poorly for toxins, specifically lead and bromine.  Here's the rating from healthy stuff.  )  So, in this case, we don't have flame retardants, but other harmful chemicals.  How frustrating!  This is more evidence that we need the Safe Chemicals Act now more than ever.)

Strollers are now an expression of a parent's lifestyle, representing status and style. There are endless selections of strollers, but which brand is the safest for your child and the environment? We’ve narrowed the choices to three companies you can count on that make safe products for your baby as well as leaving behind a greener world in the manufacturing aspect.

Stokke
This Norwegian company uses environmentally friendly and biodegradable materials to produce all their baby products. Their products range from highchairs, nursery furniture to strollers. If you’ve ever seen a Stokke Xplory Stroller, you will notice the design of the stroller frame as the most distinctive styled stroller on the market. Although it’s one of the most expensive strollers on the market, the company dedicates a lot of quality standard in the stroller with durable and robust materials to make the product last a lifetime. With that in mind you can pass the stroller on to the next family over and over again, thus delaying the time-frame of the product from ending up in the landfills.

In the production process, Stokke makes an effort to reduce their fuel consumption and CO2 emissions by transporting all their products with modern and efficient logistics channels as well as moving large stock volumes at a time to reduce frequencies of transportation.

Maclaren
Maclaren’s CSR (corporate social responsibility) policy adheres to the principles of reduce, reuse, recycle and rethink. They produce their strollers considering the environment by carefully selecting the materials they use for manufacturing as well as their emphasis on waste reduction in the process. Their line of baby strollers can be used for years as they have a weight capacity of 50 lbs, and at the end of it’s life cycle the stroller can be recycled at Maclaren’s sponsored recycling centers. Their belief is to reuse, recycle or rethink the end-of-life use for many of their materials that would have been previously sent to a landfill.

Their packaging contains 70% recycled fiber content, and in 3 years they hope to be at a 100%. You can also rest assure that your child will be safe from harmful chemicals as they have removed all phthalates, lead, PVC and brominated flame retardants (BFRs) from producing their strollers.

Orbit baby
This new age company has really stepped up the game by creating one of the most unique, convenient and eco friendly designed stroller on the market today. Their outstanding commitment to give families a safe and Eco friendly stroller really shows, as they are the first to innovate a PVC & phthalate-free rain shield.

They are also the only company that uses no chemicals to process the stroller’s footmuff and interior fabric, and still able to meet the FMVSS302 flame retardancy standard. The Orbit Baby G2 stroller consists of organic and hypoallergenic fabric, which is a huge safety factor for your baby as their skin is five times thinner than adults, so it’s important to use non-toxic or organic fabric for them as it’s easier for them to intake harmful chemicals into their bodies.

Another protection feature the Orbit Baby G2 Stroller consists of is the sunshade, which blocks nearly 100% UVA and UVB rays.  So overall, it is the top rated stroller using the safest and most organic materials to provide a healthy environment for your baby.

Production wise, Orbit Baby strives to maintain their packaging with minimal waste by not using bleach, plastic windows or oily dyes. Their brown paper boxes are both efficiently made and recycled.

Donate Your Stroller
Supporting a green stroller company is just the first step, what you do with the product next is also a key component in making the most use out of the product. Donating your good-condition stroller to a family in need is not only good to help out another family, but it does the environment a big favor by not filling the landfills with perfectly usable products.

PS-  Orbit also carries car seats that are free of toxic brominated and chlorinated chemicals, like PBBs and PBDEs. Check Healthystuff.org for ratings on car seats and other baby gear for toxic chemicals before buying.  

image:  by Maclaren Baby

Artificial Food Coloring and Huffington Post Interview

We made it to the weekend!  Here are two new posts from the last few weeks.  

Did you hear the news about artificial food coloring a few weeks ago?  The FDA was considering putting warning labels on food containing artificial colorings.  Researchers are finding they have an negative effect on the behavior of all children.  Here's a guest post I wrote for our friends over at Practically Green about it.  You'll find tips for avoiding food with artificial food colorings.  

A few weeks ago author and literacy advocate, Pam Allyn, interviewed me about my book and the problem of disappearing teachers.  It published on the Huffington Post Education page.  In the post I discuss the need for teacher mentoring programs, teacher input and empowerment, and my own experience being mentored as a new teacher.  

Have a great weekend!

Good Things Green Things (Safer Sunscreen, Soaps, Bug Repellent and more)

Welcome to a new sponsor here at Non-Toxic Kids, Good Things Green Things.  How wonderful it is to find someone who cares so deeply about providing safer products, that---

She actually lists the Environmental Working Group's  (EWG) safety rating RIGHT on the product description!  

No more switching between the description and the Skin Deep database.  It's right there. Yay!  

And of course there is the fact that they provide one of the best safer sunscreens, featured in the new EWG sunscreen report.   It's called Sun Stuff by Purple Prairie Botanicals.  I love that this sunscreen meets the strict guidelines to protect coral reefs.  Its 99 % biodegradable and unscented.  I will be ordering a bottle to try it out soon.

But that's really just the beginning. You'll find all sorts of cool eco-friendly stuff here.  Natural wood toys, natural pet care, lovely bath and body products, eco-cleaning gear (including a compostable, chemical free sponge), and soy candles. Love it.  

And just for Non-Toxic Kids readers:  promo code ntkids10 to save 10% on non sale items.  Enjoy!