Bay Laurel Plants

Md. teachers gear up for new 'environmental literacy' standard

During the school year, they teach classes from kindergarten to high school chemistry. On this day, they gathered to glean some teaching tips that would help county schools comply with a new Maryland standard for every student to graduate with “environmental literacy.”

Advocates call the state a leader in environmental education. The goal of the Maryland standard, which the State Board of Education approved June 21, is to teach students to examine ecosystems and make educated decisions on how to “create and maintain an optimal relationship between themselves and the environment.”

“It’s unique, and the implication is that their Board of Education takes environmental education seriously,’’ said Linda Rhoads, interim executive director of rth American Association for Environmental Education.

Rhoads’s group is lobbying for similar efforts throughout the country. In addition, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia and the District signed a compact with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation in 2000 that guaranteed school systems would provide a “meaningful bay or stream outdoor experience for every student” before leaving high school.

Maryland’s environmental literacy initiative will take effect in the next school year. There are no plans for state testing to enforce the standard, said William Reinhard, a spokesman for the State Department of Education. The goal, he said, is to ensure that local schools have lessons ingrained within the curriculum.

To that end, a group of professionals met on the 285-acre farm in Upper Marlboro to squish bugs. Armed with latex gloves, the teachers examined leaves and tiny purple blooms for the crop-eating beetles. The teachers then squeezed the ones they found.

“My kids are going to love this,” said Karen Keith, a special education teacher at Oxon Hill Middle School. “They think bugs are icky.”

For eight years, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation has offered this training program at Clagett Farm to teach teachers about the environment. The goal is to give them ideas for lessons in the coming school year.

This summer, 425 teachers and principals signed up for the program, up 22 percent from the previous year, said foundation spokesman Tom Zolper. Over five days, participants spend time on the farm and visit a recycling plant and farmers markets.

Advocates say environmental education sometimes gets crunched out of the school day because of an emphasis on testing in math and reading under the federal No Child Left Behind Act. In response, some advocates have formed a coalition called No Child Left Inside to push for environmental education legislation at the federal level.

aroma-essence » Blog Archive » The Power of Ecuador: Ocotea and ...

) Belong to plant families with storied functional and therapeutic reputations. Ocotea comes from the Lauraceae family (cinnamon, bay laurel, etc.); dorado azul comes from the Lamiaceae family (mint, sage, spice oils). These oils from the Amazon basin share many phytochemical properties and functions that have made their relatives some of the most widely used and valued oils throughout the world. However, very little was known about how the specific qualities of these Ecuador species might compare to their famous cousins until Young Living’s founder, Gary Young, took an interest.

Gary was intrigued by the initial phytochemical analysis of these species and was encouraged by his assessment of the growing conditions and sustainability. But what impressed him the most was when he and others started to apply the oils. The words used again and again were “balanced chemistry” and “balanced physical and emotional response.” These promising beginnings have expanded dramatically as Young Living’s vast distributor force has begun implementing these oils. Their experiences are changing the world of essential oil therapy. Again and again knowledgeable and experienced essential oils practitioners are reporting improved therapeutic results with ocotea and dorado azul.

The results using ocotea internally for maintaining healthy blood sugar levels have been especially remarkable. Thousands of people report that ocotea is invaluable as a weight-management tool. Its blood-sugar balancing effect helps curb appetite and prevent binging. It can also help restore balance if someone happens to consume too many high-sugar foods.

The science is clear: blood sugar spikes unleash a devastating biochemical cascade, which causes a host of problems. No wonder balanced blood sugar can have dramatic, positive effects such as improved mood, improved immunity, and improved inflammatory response—just to name a few. Of note is that many who have had success using cinnamon essential oil for its blood sugar maintenance effect are reporting improved results with ocotea. In addition most find ocotea less caustic or irritating on sensitive tongue, skin, and digestive tissues. This gentler response further ensures success by dramatically increasing usability and compliance. This is especially impressive when one considers that ocotea is a kinder, friendlier cinnamon but still delivers serious microbiological activity.

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