There's a lot going on right now. If you're a teacher, especially a science teacher, there's no shortage of current events to tie into your classroom. As someone who often (too often, if you ask my students) gets into the weeds on these topics, I wanted to write something that speaks to the uniqueness and gravity of the moment.
But with the sheer number of science education topics currently demanding our attention, I was having trouble settling on a topic. I asked for some input from friends and bounced around from NASA trying to re-hide some figures to the latest congressional budget that would gut Staunton's school lunch program to bird flu.
In the end, I settled on a story that combines three of my favorite things: a 6-year-old named Jack, the National Park Service and dinosaurs.
One of my best friends has a kindergartner who's obsessed with dinosaurs. As someone who was once a dino crazy kid, I can relate. Anyone who saw me show up to the Staunton High School Prom last year in an inflatable Tyrannosaurus costume might argue that, 40 years later, the crazy hasn't really subsided.
For that reason, I was extremely jealous when she told me about her summer vacation plan that included no fewer than six National Parks (Rocky Mountain, Arches, Canyonlands, Mesa Verde, Black Canyon of the Gunnison and Great Sand Dunes) and Dinosaur National Monument. But even more than extinct megafauna, I'm excited that this family is about to engage in one of my favorite activities: spending time in National Parks with loved ones.
Some of my best memories are spending time in places like Yellowstone and along Skyline Drive. I used to be a competitive distance runner, so I've spent plenty of solitary miles in the wilderness, but it's the experiences with my family that burn brightest in my memory.
My parents enjoyed camping, and awaking in the night to hear a bear snuffling around outside is an early memory. As a teenager, a visit to Mesa Verde set me on the path to my previous job as an archaeologist. More recently, getting to act as a de facto tour guide for my wife, children, and extended family in Shenandoah National Park was a highlight from a few summers ago.
My wife and I celebrated our 10th anniversary by climbing Old Rag and treated ourselves to a well-deserved meal after the strenuous 8-mile hike. The wonders that I know my friend and her family hope to experience this summer will stay with them for the rest of their lives, and maybe help their son start down a path to his future.
Like the subtitle of the Ken Burns documentary, the National Park System really is America's best idea. Today we take them for granted, but if it wasn't for the hard work and dedication of thousands, the parks would not be the national gems they are today. If you haven't watched the Burns documentary, I highly recommend it. Just don't try to take in all 12 hours in one sitting.
The idea of the parks as open to everyone is a uniquely American idea. I've been fortunate enough to see some of the great palaces of Europe, with their gardens and parks often right next door. But these were originally meant for a select few, the billionaires of their time, if such amounts of treasure had existed back then. Our national parks are not only beautiful, but accessible.
Or they were, up until now. You may have heard about the thousands of federal workers who have been fired over the past weeks, as well as the funding that was slashed in the name of waste and fraud. But if you listen to the stories of those who had the rug pulled out from under them, the only thing being wasted is their potential. These are not frauds, but rather talented individuals who chose a career for the benefit of all, not the few.
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Many could have made more money in another career (as a teacher, I can relate), but wanted to leave their mark on a better society. When we risk losing them, we risk squandering some of our greatest experiences, and we risk losing the chance to teach the next generation about what really matters. If our parks lose funding, we not only potentially lose these wonders, but all the great things our citizens are inspired to do by visiting them. I know what the National Parks mean to me; I want Jack to feel the same way.
The public good could really use some public support at the moment. Your educators, park rangers, scientists, and countless others are losing funding, losing jobs, and wondering what comes next. Contact your state and federal officials so they know how their choices are affecting you. Don't be afraid to use your voice to help protect the people and places that are important to you.
As a nation, we've had some great ideas; I'd hate to see them go the way of the T. rex.
Nate Lawrence is a science teacher at Staunton High School in Staunton Virginia, his views do not necessarily represent the views of Staunton City Schools. He can be reached at [email protected].