New Jersey Learns for a Sustainable Future
What Our 2009 Participants are Saying About the Program
“Experiences are much more effective in encouraging change than simply telling someone to change- or telling someone he or she should change. Engaging people in a shared experience is the way to go.”
“Yesterday I made the connection about the inter-connectedness of education and the larger issues of spheres of influence. Change can travel from the individual to a larger and larger network. The boundaries between people such as nations, politics, belief-systems etc. can dissolve when we all understand the concept of our inter-connectedness. We have discussed that the idea of sustainability is connected to all the disciplines that we teach, not just science and this week that has become a more solid understanding based on practical understanding of ways I can integrate the Education for Sustainability framework into our curriculum.”
“My “Aha!” moment from this training came during our discussion of the GDP (Gross National Product). I always thought that when the GDP was up, that was a good thing. I didn't realize how dysfunctional this model of the economy was. There is a total disconnect between this economic system and a healthy quality of life.”
“This training has taught me that I can, should, want and need to present this message about Education for Sustainability to a larger audience than I first thought. I first thought it would be for my own students and teachers from my own school. Now I see it need to include administrators, parents, other schools, and the community! Sustainable Jersey equals sustainable communities and that's a huge order!”
“I've begun in my classroom- I've already begun realigning my units to the Education for Sustainability standards. I'll now focus on water resources and its economics and dynamics. Another big “Aha! Moment” for me was that there are more entry points than love on the earth. I need to be more patient and accepting of those other entry points.”
“I slowly came to the realization that my organization has a huge audience and that we have an amazing opportunity to influence- and we are wasting it. I must do all I can to engender a change in how we educate our audience and how we operate as an education center. I am going to start by planting the seed and hopefully providing transformational moments to my colleagues using our combined energies to change the organization.”
Please direct questions to:
Leah Mayor, Director of Education and Research
Phone: (212) 645-9930 ext. (*) 827
