Monday, September 24, 2007

Monday Editorial

One of our local papers, the Frederick News-Post, has an editorial up on the issue of NDD and the Sarbanes No Child Left Inside legislation.

It hardly matters what you call it. Symptoms witnessed in children today that result from their diminishing connections to nature are omnipresent, if not woeful.

Are we not witnessing a childhood obesity epidemic? How many kids today experience anything remotely (no pun intended) close to a non-video/computer-screen-involved life? More importantly: How can we reasonably expect upcoming generations to develop a meaningful connection or empathetic response to the environment absent any first-hand knowledge of, or ongoing interaction with, it? How do you care about something you don't know?