2007 Earth Expeditions News
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CMS educator travels to California, Thailand for two summer fellowships
Mary Carroll Alexander, who teaches earth environmental science at the International Studies School at Garinger, won two summer fellowships. Alexander was also named the Outstanding First Year Teacher at the school.
This summer Alexander will travel to Thailand for the Buddhism and Conservation fellowship and then to California for the Ghandi, Nonviolence and the 21st Century Curriculum fellowship.
Alexander says she’s excited about traveling to Thailand for the Buddhism and Conservation fellowship. During that trip with Miami University and Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden officials, Alexander and other fellows will investigate the country's rain forests and diverse cultural environments. The trip will address key topics in ecology while exploring emerging models of conservation and education.
“I’m so excited to have the opportunity to see the country and bringing back what I learn about conservation to the International School and Charlotte,” she said.
The knowledge will surely inspire students to undertake environmental protection efforts.
“If we expand their hearts and open their minds,” Alexander said, “we can make them more productive global citizens.”
After that trip, Alexander will attend the Ahimsa Center’s 2007 summer institute for K-12 teachers. This fellowship will focus on Mohandas Gandhi and the relevance of his life and legacy in the 21st Century school curricula. Gandhi had unwavering commitment to nonviolence as the foundation for his vision of humanity and as a powerful force to question, reform and transform.
This institute July 15-28 will provide Alexander and 39 other educators an opportunity for educational leadership by integrating in school curricula the lessons based on Gandhi’s thought and actions.
Alexander said she plans to share what she learns with her students.
“Some of these kids see violence on a daily basis and I want to bring back something powerful to help combat that,” she said. Violence may seem like an unlikely topic to come up in earth environmental science classes, but Alexander says natural resources such as water can spark wars in the future. Students should understand the role these natural resources can play in world politics.
Source: http://www.cms.k12.nc.us/