Orr Book

As I started to read “Earth In Mind” by David Orr all I could think of was, “The sky is falling, the sky is falling!!!!!!” It screamed of alertist rhetoric. All I could think is what have I gotten into, this leftist is going to rant for the next two hundred plus pages. But, I plodded forward none the less and I am glad that I did. Being from the conservative side I can appreciate much of what Orr has to say.
For starters Orr is a big picture guy. He has spent his life looking at the issues and gives an idea of what the world could look like. Orr not only gives a big picture but he also gives some practical ideas that would be important cogs in the system. For example his idea about ranking schools on things other than grad standards or ACT scores we should look at the waste they produce and how environmentally effective they are, this would cause for systematic change and also ensure that the students and teachers are aware of the issues at hand.
Orr posits that the problem with the system is the way that we educate. Not only is the system of education that is implemented not working we need to upset the apple cart and start over, before it is too late. As a former educator I can appreciate what he is saying. As teachers we are given a subject to teach and seem to fall into the textbook and what that says. You get into a grove. You concentrate on classroom management as much as content. Not only that, with things like No Child Let Behind and other state standards teachers are almost forced to teach to the test so that students can perform on the test. This, along with tenure, and what I call laminated lesson plans, leads to a lack of moving with the times.
We certainly have a need for the education to change. Another thing that I appreciated was that Orr points out that most of us live indoors most of the time and do not get out and appreciate God’s creation. Educational experiences like what we experience through Shalom Hill Farm, are exactly what he is talking about. It is interesting reading some of the blogs and how influential and formative our short weekend together was. For those that have not experienced it they will never know. It is why as a kid I always enjoyed when the flat-landers from St Louis churches would come to Colorado and experience back packing in the mountains. There is something to be said for being in God’s creation. I personally am at peace when I can spend some time with God in his place, mountains or prairies. While teaching I always try and remember that there are several learning styles and that those need to be attended to so that all learners can take the information in the most helpful way.
God created with just his words, God spoke and it was. This Creation he handed over to humanity to take care of. We are responsible for it and Orr, I believe, wants his readers to realize that the same old same old is not cutting it. We need radical change, and at the same time be attentive to the long range goals.
Over all a good read and informative.