By now, many of you have heard about Richard Louv and his ground-breaking book "Last Child in the Woods". He argues that children today are often disconnected from nature, opting instead for anyone of the myriad of technological choices in our plugged-in world: television, computers, video games, cell phones, and ipods. In the early pages of his book he recounts how a fourth grader expressed his preference to stay inside: "...cause that's where all the electrical outlets are."Now this today from a Canadian newspaper:
The publisher of the Oxford Junior Dictionary has sent words like "beaver" and "dandelion" the way of the dodo bird. In the latest version of its dictionary for schoolchildren, Oxford University Press has cut nature terms such as heron, magpie, otter, acorn, clover, ivy, sycamore, willow and blackberry.In their place, the university publishing house has substituted more modern terms, like the electronic Blackberry, blog, MP3 player, voicemail and broadband.
Canadian wildlife artist and conservationist Robert Bateman, whose Get to Know Program has been inspiring children to go outdoors and "get to know" their wild neighbours for more than a decade, said the decision is telling kids that nature just isn't that important."This is another nail in the coffin of human beings being acquainted with nature," Bateman said in an interview with The Canadian Press."If you can't name things, how can you love them? And if you don't love them, then you're not going to care a hoot about protecting them or voting for issues that would protect them."
I particularly like that they have cut "blackberry"- the fruit/shrub, but added "Blackberry", the handheld. Read the full article here: http://www.childrenandnature.org/ . The publisher of the Oxford Junior Dictionary has sent words like "beaver" and "dandelion" the way of the dodo bird. In the latest version of its dictionary for schoolchildren, Oxford University Press has cut nature terms such as heron, magpie, otter, acorn, clover, ivy, sycamore, willow and blackberry.In their place, the university publishing house has substituted more modern terms, like the electronic Blackberry, blog, MP3 player, voicemail and broadband.
Canadian wildlife artist and conservationist Robert Bateman, whose Get to Know Program has been inspiring children to go outdoors and "get to know" their wild neighbours for more than a decade, said the decision is telling kids that nature just isn't that important."This is another nail in the coffin of human beings being acquainted with nature," Bateman said in an interview with The Canadian Press."If you can't name things, how can you love them? And if you don't love them, then you're not going to care a hoot about protecting them or voting for issues that would protect them."
What do you think? I'd vote for the dandelion any day.
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Couldn't agree more!
ReplyDeleteLook forward to a regular blog series about the park. Can't wait for Spring!
ReplyDeletelooking forward to Spring!
ReplyDeleteAcorn and beaver.. well, in Boreal/art nature there were wonderful beavers and their dens. and I do collect acorns. do not get me lost. be well. not all workshops have information that really works. rs
ReplyDeleteRoy Staab
This is disturbing, of course. The publisher's statement make an important point that this is a dictionary aimed at 7-year-olds, and that they publish a separate dictionary for kids ages 8 and up that includes all the words. Still, that doesn't entirely let them off the hook. Which is more relevant to a 7-year-old, a blog or a dandelion? A "Blackberry" or a "blackberry"???
ReplyDeleteRegards,
Eduardo
Eduardo Alexander Rabel
It's unbelievable that they would cut beaver, as it is their national animal!
ReplyDeleteCan't imagine our own four granddaughters (5-7) without those words. The love nature, love the woods. . . One even loves bugs. None of them would get through a season without blowing on a dandelion and making a wish. Can't do that with a Blackberry. Maybe it's time to write our own junior dictionary.
ReplyDeleteYou're right about that! Can't do that with a Blackberry.
ReplyDeleteIn "Last Child in the Woods" Louv talks about a a study that found that young children could name more Pokemon characters than common mammals!
Thanks for your thoughts. As one reader reminded me, I should have included a website link, duly noted. Here it is: www.teaneckcreek.org
Have a good day!
Interesting blog... I just posted the crazy article on my facebook page to share with all of my "friends"! I am new at this, but it has seemed to work - looking forward to following your blog and learning more about your organization!
ReplyDeleteWelcome, be sure to invite your people to visit us!
ReplyDeleteWow. Great post. I have a 3 year old son and I already have him sharing my love of nature. He helped me last year in the garden and he is even enjoying looking through the gardening catalogs with me now. I am going to pass this around to my friends. It is easy to take for granted something we have in front of us every day.
ReplyDeleteWow. Great post. I have a 3 year old son and I already have him sharing my love of the outdoors. He went on his first hike this fall and simply loved it. Last year he "helped me" in the garden. We are already planning for this years garden and he is enjoying looking at all the beautiful plants and picking his favorites. It is all too easy to forget about the things we have right in front of us every day. We wouldn't experience life the same without nature. I'll be sure to pass this info along!
ReplyDeleteSuch a great age, 3! Enjoy.
ReplyDeleteI am with you - I want the dandelion, the heron, the magpie - the whole lot!
ReplyDeleteAt 3 years old my niece in Colorado knows the difference between whitetail deer, mule deer, elk, bighorn sheep, moose and pronghorn. So cute, and so promising!
ReplyDeleteTerrifc post, although very scary to read about those nature terms being eradicated from the dictionary. How did we let this happen? No magpies? A whole generation growing up without either Heckle or Jeckle!
ReplyDeleteSeriously, working at NJ Audubon myself I'm reminded almost daily of the magnitude of the problem and the diligence with which we must face it. You're doing great work--glad to see you're on the front lines!
Terrific post, albeit very scary to read about those threatened and endangered nature terms. How did we let this happen? No magpies? That means an entire generations growing up without knowing either Heckle or Jeckle!
ReplyDeleteSeriously though, working for NJ Audubon I'm reminded almost daily of the magnitude of the problem and the diligence with which it must met. Thanks for your great work--it's nice to see you on the front lines!