Education
The Oakville Sustainability Initiative recognizes that the
future of
our
communities depends on the ability of our young people to understand
the
sustainability challenges they will undoubtedly face in the
future. Educational institutions are a microcosm of our
community. They consume resources, they feed and
house people, they use many kinds of equipment, and they have
environmental and social impacts that are similar to a larger
community. The way in which our schools, colleges, and
universities carry out their daily operations is an important
teaching tool for students. It creates an incredible
opportunity for learning because students begin to focus on how we
make a community function effectively. An increasing number of educational institutions
are moving towards a
healthier and more secure and sustainable path for their learning communities.
Principals and college and university presidents are including and
connecting different parts of their institutions in the process of
change:the faculty, the facilities, the students, and the administration. By
doing so, they are educating all participants, building a strong sense
of community, and increasing the likelihood that their sustainability
efforts will succeed and last.
Sustainability is also a place for strategic positioning. In many cases, educational institutuions are beginning to compare what they are doing in the sustainability arena to what other schools are doing and asking themselves how they are measuring up. Others are understanding that one way to differentiate is to become leaders in this area. Still others have led the path to the most important of all educational truths, fulfilling their mission. It is the moral and social responsibility of the educational community to help create a healthy, thriving, and sustainable society.
It is never too early to begin a discussion about the important linkages between economic, social, and environmental factors and how small initiatives can one day become standard practice. Our children's future and quality of life will be linked to their understanding of longterm sustainability.
The Oakville Sustainability Initiative can help your school plan for longterm sustainability by incorporating a science based framework. We believe that the values, habits, and worldviews of our students are shaped by what is taught at home as well as what is taught within our academic institutions and we are encouraging champions in the education community to become early adopters of sustainable practices within their own environments.
If you are interested in participating in our early adopters program, please contact us.
