West
Middle School seventh graders are learning to be good stewards of the earth.
Several
lessons, labs and activities this year have been devoted to educating students
about the need to protect the land, air and water. The speaker on January 18 also
delivered this message of conservation and protection.
Mrs.
Carol Trembath, an author, librarian and teacher, spoke to students about her
journey as an author. Her books, Water Walkers and Stepping Stones, tell the
story of the important role Native Americans play in bringing the message of
protection and conservation of the Great Lakes to the world.
Mrs.
Trembath told the students that European stories tend to be written around the
number three, such as The Three Bears, the three mean stepsisters in Cinderella
and The Three Little Pigs.
Native
American stories tend to be written about a group of four, such as an eagle,
bear, deer and rabbit or four stepping stones.
In
both of Mrs. Trembath's books, her message is that even one person can make a
difference. Turn water off when not in use, reduce, reuse and recycle and do
not add pollutants, such as soaps, fertilizer or oil to the water. The
demise of freshwater will be the demise of the human race, according to Mrs.
Trembath.
Mrs.
Trembath also discussed the efforts of the Water Walkers. Water Walkers are a
group of Native American people and other supporters who have walked thousands
of miles along the coast of the Great Lakes and other areas to bring awareness
of the pollution and invasive species affecting the Great Lakes.
The
presentation was very well received by students and staff. Her wealth of
information and motivation inspired everyone to be more thoughtful when using
one of our most important natural resources, water. Water is a non-renewable
resource. When we destroy the purity and wastewater irresponsibly, we as a
civilization are doomed. Mrs. Trembath's visit made quite an impact on our
sense of civil responsibility.
The
students have an opportunity to purchase one or more of Mrs. Trembath's books. Order
forms were given to our seventh-grade science students. The students are
encouraged to purchase one of her books as a reminder to take good care of our
"Big Blue Marble". Submitted by Sara Bochenek
