Congress Continues to Amaze

You have to wonder how we ended up with the current crop in Congress. They are mostly corrupt, inept and about the only thing they are good at is spending our money. So I was not surprised to find this gem (this is not a joke): Hr 2054 No Child Left Inside Act of 2009, which will spend $500 million to do the following: 1. Environmental Education is essential in

(A) enhancing student learning and problem solving skills, especially in science;

(B) creating responsible and engaged citizens; and

(C) producing graduates who are prepared to address the challenges, adjustments, and opportunities that will be present in the life and the workforce of the 21st century due to threats to human health, economical development, biological diversity, and national security arising from environmental stresses.

(2) Studies documenting the increasing indicators of nature deficit show that time spent out of the classroom for learning during the school day is critical to the intellectual, emotional, and physical health of children and that providing students with quality opportunities to directly experience the natural world can improve students’ overall readiness to learn and academic performance, as well as self-esteem, personal responsibility, community involvement, personal health (including child obesity issues), and understanding of nature.

(3) Fewer and fewer students are becoming involved in important environmental education courses, classwork, and field investigations as an unintended consequence of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001.

(4) Hands-on, experience-based environmental education as part of the school curriculum connects children to the natural world, and research supports that time spent outdoors lessens the symptoms of Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), reduces stress and aggression, helps children sleep better, and improves physical health.

(5) Environmental education ‘in the field’ as part of the regular school curriculum gets kids outside contributing to healthy lifestyles through outdoor recreation, exercise, play and experience in the natural world that is critical to helping prevent obesity and address other related health problems.

$500 million to let kids play outside? Leslie and Kelly apply for a grant.