Dina Raevsky believes an essential aspect of teaching science to young adults is bringing them outside of the classroom, to breathe life into the academic side of their studies.This is especially true for her freshman environmental science class at the Maryland School for the Deaf, where topics like the effects of global warming inspire students to take action in their community.
Having students set up recycling bins on campus, collect trash in Baker Park, or hang strips around town so that they can see air pollution accumulate, makes an impact, Raevsky said.
For about three months, the students have been preparing for an event they hope will educate MSD high school students and the broader community about global warming. "Al Gore's Earth's Report Card" is being held tonight at 7 p.m. in Ely Auditorium on campus.
Raevsky invited Bradley Porche, an educational representative for Al Gore, to speak at the school. To her surprise, he agreed, and will be giving talks and presenting movie clips and animations twice at MSD -- once to school students in the afternoon, and again at night for the public, Raevsky said.
Students contributed by promoting the event. They made flyers and distributed them throughout the city, Raevsky said.
Leighason Liddle, one of Raevsky's students, signed through an interpreter the experience was interesting, and while some people handed them back or simply ignored her, she understood it was not personal, but a part of the process of handing out flyers.
Michael Haywood, another student, signed through an interpreter his experience was a bit more traumatic. One woman stopped her car in the middle of the street to pick up the flyer, crumpled it in her palm and handed it back to him.
Inconvenient truths
Sitting in their classroom in the Ely Building on Thursday, students discussed their fears about the harmful consequences to the planet if global warming goes unchecked.
Carbon dioxide from cars and factories accumulating in the atmosphere, deforestation and an increase in harmful rays from the sun were among dangers they believed could pose serious risks to living beings.
Josiah Withrow signed through an interpreter that he was disappointed by global warming. He cited the increase of SPF indicated on sunscreens as an example of how the environment has recently changed.
Students mentioned predictions of floods, and the loss of habitats for plants and animals as other hazards the planet will endure in the near future.
Liddle said that though some people either don't read the news or live in denial, if nothing is done to improve the environment, the Earth will not be a livable place.
Haywood said some people are skeptical of global warming because they are accustomed to inconveniences of modern life, like car exhaust.
Changing course
Students in Raevsky's class do not believe the U.S. government is doing enough to reduce pollution and protect the environment. They have written to government officials, urging them to sign important international treaties.
Rachael Richart signed through an interpreter that one practical way to help reduce harmful emissions to the environment is to use alternative cleaning products, such as Green Works.
Josiah suggested people shift from gas-guzzling trucks to hybrids.
Michael advised consumers not to buy or produce chemicals such as chlorofluorocarbons.
Liddle said the government should pass more laws to stop deforestation, and to plant more trees.
On campus, students believe MSD was not doing as much as it should to protect the environment.
They have, however, made their own recycling bins placed throughout the school, and collected metal and put the money they earned from recycling it toward a fund to plant new trees on campus.
Raevsky said that Deputy Superintendent Chad Baker has installed CFL light bulbs in the Ely Building, and there are designs to install a compost area near the school's cafeteria and perhaps outside the elementary school now under construction.
This year, Raevsky's students will help with off-campus plantings and will visit a nonprofit organization in Gaithersburg called Second Chance Wildlife Center, which rescues animals that are the victims of deforestation and suburban sprawl.
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