Natural School Reform

            Before reading Richard Louv’s chapter on natural school reform, I had never heard of the environment-based learning. I was raised in the dry structure of school. Often I was taught in windowless rooms. There was an emphasis on separating the student from distractions (windows, outside, etc.) and that would aid learning. To an extent I think it does the opposite. Creating this separation between school and outside life causes the boring school phenomenon. If students were taught outside and with a hands-on style, then schooling becomes more interesting to students and in turn they learn better.  

Wasn’t school supposed to be boring? With the research and example Louv presents it seems like there could be a better way. Environment-based learning has astounding effects on students' grades and enthusiasm. I agree that environment based learning could help fix the problem riddled education system of the United States.

            

           Louv also makes the point that universities and standard education produces narrow-minded masses. The United States education system seems to leave creativity out of the curriculum. Creativity is the backbone of problem solving. Education should breed good problem solvers because our world is full of problems.  

In my personal experience, I have learned a great deal in the school system without applying it to my ‘real’ life. The examples of environment-based education in this chapter make the link by teaching students about the same topics they would learn but applying those topics to their local environment. For example students may check pH of local streams in order to understand chemistry and how that pH effects aquatic life in order to understand biology. I think this is one of most important aspects of education, learning and then applying what you learned.