Some of Skyline's Green Ribbon projects included "informing the public about the misuse of energy," using Earth Week to "inform the masses about recycling and other aspects of the Green Movement" and encouraging students to "live a healthier life and reduce pollution by walking or carpooling to school" and then rewarding them with longer lunch breaks.
Other school projects from around the country can be seen here.
The Mesa school's Green Ribbon awards didn't come as a big surprise. Mesa has been front and center of the
The U.S. Conference of Mayors joined with the ICLEI in 2006 in an effort to "combat the effects of global warming."
The U.S. Conference of Mayors has formed a new partnership with ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability USA – to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in cities through outreach, education and technical assistance. The mayors also formed a Mayors' Council on Climate Protection with the goal of providing mayors the tools they need to carry out their mission. Formerly the International Council of Local Environmental Initiatives, ICLEI is the nation's foremost organization working to provide cities with resources to lead on climate protection in the U.S. and internationally.
“Mayors have done a tremendous amount of work on the issue of Climate Change and Global Warming,” said Conference President Long Beach Mayor Beverly O’Neill in announcing the partnership, “Mayors have been leading the way on this issue through local efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, which is a major cause of climate change.”
By 2011, Obama's head of the Department of Education, Arne Duncan, began the pilot program for Green Ribbon Schools.
The recognition award honors exemplary achievement in reducing environmental impact and costs; improving health and wellness; and providing effective environmental and sustainability education...
As a result of the award, state education agencies now collaborate with health and natural resource agencies to support schools. Likewise, among federal agencies, through the Green Strides Webinar Series and Speakers Bureau, ED-GRS is a platform to connect all schools with existing resources, programs and grants.
Who is behind the Green Ribbon Program?
Campaign
Steering Committee
Campaign for Environmental Literacy, Earth Day Network, National Wildlife Federation, U.S. Green Building Council
Supporting Organizations (National)
Alliance for Climate Education, Alliance to Save Energy, American Architectural Foundation, American Federation of Teachers, Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education, BlueGreen Alliance, International Council of Environmental Deans and Directors, Earth Force, Green Charter Schools Network, Green Community Schools, Green Fox Schools, Green Schools Alliance, Green Schools Initiative, Green Schools Network, GREENGUARD Environmental Institute, Healthy Schools Campaign, Hispanic Access Foundation, National Association of Elementary School Principals, National Audubon Society, National Education Association, National Energy Education Development Project, National Green Schools Coalition, National Green Schools Network, National School Boards Association, North American Association for Environmental Education, Ocean Foundation, Project Learning Tree, U.S. Partnership for Education for Sustainable Development, Zerofootprint Challenge for Schools.
A
primary goal of ED-GRS is to inspire schools to strive for 21st century
excellence. To that end, the award recognizes
schools that:
1)
Reduce
environmental impact and costs;
2)
Improve
the health and wellness of schools, students and staff; and
3)
Provide
effective environmental and sustainability literacy, incorporating STEM, civic
skills and green career pathways.
If a state or
comparable authority wishes to nominate more than one public school, at least
one must be a school with at least 40 percent of their students from a
disadvantaged background. [1]
If an authority wishes to nominate a
fourth school, it must be a private school. No more than one of the four may be a private
school. A school may be selected as
honoree only once every three years. Authorities
are encouraged to take a school’s academic achievement, achievement gaps and
diversity into account when selecting school honorees.
[1] A student from a
“disadvantaged background” is defined for this program by the CSSO of each
state. The definition must include students who are eligible
for free and reduced-price school meals and may
include students with disabilities and students who are limited English
proficient, migrant, or receiving services under Title I of the Elementary and
Secondary Education Act. Nominating
Authorities must indicate the definition used and the percent disadvantaged for
each school nominated.
Their stated goal is to "invigorate and empower schools nationwide for growing the 21st-century economy. By encouraging schools to apply for this award, powerful strides will be taken to ensure we meet our shared goal of greening America's schools within a generation."
They continue, "Green Schools are an effective agent for enacting positive environmental and educational change in schools and communities."
Yes. Agenda 21. Using our children to "spread the wealth around."
Did we mention that nominated schools must also be in compliance with the Office of Civil Rights and not have any pending suits with the Department of Justice? (see list of statutory and regulatory requirements)
We smell Van Jones and Eric Holder lurking around the corner.
In 2012, two other Arizona schools received the Green Ribbon Award.
Phoenix's Roadrunner Elementary School and the STAR School in Flagstaff are among 78 first-ever U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools.
The STAR School stated:
The approach to education and sustainability at STAR School aims to
provide a platform from which the student can step in to the world of
environmental challenges, empowered to contribute to a more sustainable future.
STAR School promotes self-reliance,
alternative building methods, and energy sources such as solar power. The school also hosts workshops about
sustainable living, technology, and the arts.
Sustainability education is used to complement and reinforce the oldest
Navajo traditions throughout the school.
Each student is expected to complete an individual
or group project during the middle-school years that: 1) meets identifiable national
STEM standards, 2) investigates and provides possible solutions to
environmental and sustainability challenges chosen by the student, and 3)
provides service to the community that meets the STAR School service-learning rubrics.
It's too bad that Roadrunner Elementary and the STAR School weren't chosen for their academic achievement.
You can watch the head of the EPA, Lisa Jackson, along with Arne Duncan praise the 2012 Green Ribbon program winners and specifically congratulate Roadrunner and STAR school. In true Obama Administration style, the propaganda announcement is done in front of props a group of elementary school children.
We already know that members of the teacher's unions have suggested ways to creatively implement liberal agendas into our children's classrooms. So it is no surprise when our children bring home verb structure or reading comprehension assignments like these:
Finally, the parent decided to make their own statement:
Schools can be nominated by a state's Department of Education. Should you choose, let our State Superintendent of Public Instruction, John Huppenthal, know that we do not wish our schools to participate in the Obama Administration global Agenda 21 campaign scam and further expose our children to more liberal brainwashing propaganda.
