Rationale
About five minutes into a lesson on the likelihood and impacts of sea level rise in Wilmington, Delaware, my student, Luis, become extremely upset and put his head down on his desk. From that point until the end of the class period, he was unable to engage in the discussion any further. Luis was terrified at the idea that by the end of the century Wilmington could, in fact, be underwater. The facts are alarming. According to the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, "Delaware lies within a sea level rise "hotspot" where sea levels could rise faster and higher than elsewhere due to a combination of rising seas and sinking land." After seeing Luis upset by the statistics, I worked to make sure that he and the other students were not upset. No matter what I said, I could not assure Luis that everything would be all right. His sensitivity made me reflect on my method of delivery and the sequence of activities for the lesson. My instruction had greater emphasis on the negative impacts of sea level rise and not enough weight on the ways in which we can take action to improve the projected scenario for our city.
So my problem lies in taking a very difficult situation, one that is incomprehensible to most, and turning it into a lesson that is empowering instead of frightening. Through my research I found signs of empowerment and gained an understanding of how we, as the human species, can impact our environment and reverse some of the damage that has been done. Instead of "business as usual" we can work together to create a future that includes the human species, not destroy it. In his opening remarks, Peter Droege states this concept beautifully, "Around the world, cities and urban communities plant the seeds to a great transformation, unprecedented in history in its reach and magnitude." 2 I want to present this opportunity to make a change as an opportunity; I want the students to see that they can be ambassadors of change. Instead of focusing on the negatives for our city, I want to have a classroom of informed citizens that can use this negative outlook for our city and turn it into a means for change, unprecedented change. Al Gore shares this perspective in his work, he stated, "We should feel a sense of joy that those of us today have a rare privilege that few generations in history have known: the chance to undertake a historic mission worthy of our best efforts." 3
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