Comments on: Sustainability and Science Education http://borderland.northernattitude.org/2007/12/16/sustainability-and-science-education/ (bôr'dər-lănd') n. Located on or near a frontier. An indeterminate area or condition. Mon, 13 Oct 2008 04:32:42 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: A. Mercer http://borderland.northernattitude.org/2007/12/16/sustainability-and-science-education/#comment-62818 A. Mercer Tue, 25 Dec 2007 05:37:00 +0000 http://borderland.northernattitude.org/2007/12/16/sustainability-and-science-education/#comment-62818 I'm not adverse to writing grants, etc. but you can spend the rest of your professional life doing development to sustain a program like this because where ever you get the money it will not be sustained funding until the project is part of the regular school budget. And make no mistake there is HUGE resistance in moving the source of funding to the regular budget. I know this not only from schools, but my work as a public library advocate. We spent years trying to get funding for an after school homework program that started as a private grant into the city budget. That was eventually funded by the city, but with recent budget cuts, it's gone now. I'd say oh well, but I'm sure in 5-10 years, they'll want to start the program again. I’m not adverse to writing grants, etc. but you can spend the rest of your professional life doing development to sustain a program like this because where ever you get the money it will not be sustained funding until the project is part of the regular school budget. And make no mistake there is HUGE resistance in moving the source of funding to the regular budget. I know this not only from schools, but my work as a public library advocate. We spent years trying to get funding for an after school homework program that started as a private grant into the city budget. That was eventually funded by the city, but with recent budget cuts, it’s gone now. I’d say oh well, but I’m sure in 5-10 years, they’ll want to start the program again.

]]> By: Susan http://borderland.northernattitude.org/2007/12/16/sustainability-and-science-education/#comment-61818 Susan Wed, 19 Dec 2007 00:24:31 +0000 http://borderland.northernattitude.org/2007/12/16/sustainability-and-science-education/#comment-61818 "It's exhausting to maintain focus". Hear Hear! Thanks for the honest portrayal of your classroom and yourself. It is good not to feel alone in managing the hoards. “It’s exhausting to maintain focus”. Hear Hear! Thanks for the honest portrayal of your classroom and yourself. It is good not to feel alone in managing the hoards.

]]> By: Doug Noon http://borderland.northernattitude.org/2007/12/16/sustainability-and-science-education/#comment-61742 Doug Noon Tue, 18 Dec 2007 14:27:08 +0000 http://borderland.northernattitude.org/2007/12/16/sustainability-and-science-education/#comment-61742 I didn't say <em>who</em> is asking the question, which may make a difference to anyone's understanding of what I meant, I suppose. The question about sustaining the initiative comes from university faculty, for the most part. Teachers understand the limitations of time and energy - and money - that make the suggestion problematic. Nobody expects this project to continue. I'm simply daydreaming here. There are other, more realistic, ideas in place to create a legacy from the project. The remark about "doers and teachers" is built on a cliché. It doesn't make me angry, just skeptical about any claim that might come from it. I didn’t say who is asking the question, which may make a difference to anyone’s understanding of what I meant, I suppose. The question about sustaining the initiative comes from university faculty, for the most part. Teachers understand the limitations of time and energy - and money - that make the suggestion problematic. Nobody expects this project to continue. I’m simply daydreaming here. There are other, more realistic, ideas in place to create a legacy from the project.

The remark about “doers and teachers” is built on a cliché. It doesn’t make me angry, just skeptical about any claim that might come from it.

]]> By: Brian http://borderland.northernattitude.org/2007/12/16/sustainability-and-science-education/#comment-61725 Brian Tue, 18 Dec 2007 10:28:16 +0000 http://borderland.northernattitude.org/2007/12/16/sustainability-and-science-education/#comment-61725 "One of the things that keeps coming up is the question of how to sustain this after the grant money runs out." This is what separates "doers" from "teachers". Doug, these are two profound statements. I suppose your statement angers me more than mine angers you, and I know it angers you. I might just delve into your comments much more deeply on my blog. In this instance your thought process appalls me, and is a very good example of how the system is broken. “One of the things that keeps coming up is the question of how to sustain this after the grant money runs out.”

This is what separates “doers” from “teachers”.

Doug, these are two profound statements. I suppose your statement angers me more than mine angers you, and I know it angers you.

I might just delve into your comments much more deeply on my blog. In this instance your thought process appalls me, and is a very good example of how the system is broken.

]]> By: Doug Noon http://borderland.northernattitude.org/2007/12/16/sustainability-and-science-education/#comment-61662 Doug Noon Tue, 18 Dec 2007 00:28:45 +0000 http://borderland.northernattitude.org/2007/12/16/sustainability-and-science-education/#comment-61662 The effort that was required of me to "get it started" was filling out an application, and attending an interview. Like I said, it's part of a grant, but the grant isn't something that I set up. It's a much bigger project that's being administered through the University here, and it involves several local schools. The effort that was required of me to “get it started” was filling out an application, and attending an interview. Like I said, it’s part of a grant, but the grant isn’t something that I set up. It’s a much bigger project that’s being administered through the University here, and it involves several local schools.

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