The
Environment for Learning
World Environment Day left its footprint clearly on Birkenhead School this week, with a Recycling Seminar for Year 8, Artwork made from Recycled Rubbish, Environmental Pledges, and a Deputy Headmaster on his bike!
The Library is the focus for most of this activity. One glance will reveal an unusual collection of inhabitants. Perched on shelves, and peeping out from behind books is a tremendous array of objects made from the contents of Wirral’s bins. Perhaps the most striking of these is Daisy, a cow made entirely from empty plastic milk bottles (with an old rubber glove in a supporting role!) see photograph at bottom of page.
Elaine
Wilday, the inspiration behind the Art project, explained that she wanted the
pupils to turn something with no perceived value into something valued. Daisy is
a powerful symbol, a hybrid of the natural world, industrial process and global
anxiety. She is reminiscent of Super Lamb Banana in her effect, and shares a
common sense of purpose and of fun.
When it comes to the environment, we can all do better! The camouflage netting in the Library is festooned with slips of (recycled) paper, each bearing a pledge to behave in a more responsible way towards our world.
"I promise to turn the tap off when cleaning my teeth."
"I promise not to use my car for a week.”
"I promise to stop leaving things on stand-by."
"I promise to put just enough water in the kettle for a cup of tea."
"I promise not to beat up my brother but to recycle him instead!"
One of these pledges that certainly catches the eye comes from Deputy Head Dave Edmunds, and concerns not using his car for a week. Eschewing public transport, and refusing lift sharing, Dave has taken to his bike for the 10 miles from his home in Bromborough. Caught at half past seven on Friday morning, after a brisk run in to School, he reflects on his week in the saddle:
‘I
suppose I’ve been really lucky with the weather: when I made the pledge I had no
idea we were in for a settled period of warm dry days, and as a result the
journeys have been very pleasant. I’m pretty fit anyway, and I exercise by
running, so the cycling is not a strain, and indeed, I don’t push it because it
is easy to work up a real sweat on a bike, and to be honest, we’re not exactly
geared up for cyclists at School. We no longer have much secure storage for
bikes, and facilities for changing and showering are pretty minimal, especially
for adults.
I’m lucky to have my own office to change in and store my kit. You have to think
ahead and plan a supply of clean shirts and socks, and try to avoid trucking
huge piles of books around, but other than that it is relaxing and invigorating,
and I arrive in school feeling much sharper than after the drive. I haven’t
bought any special kit, and my bike is a basic mountain bike. It takes about 35
minutes on the bike as opposed to 15 in the car, so there’s not that much impact
on time. I’ve been lucky that we haven’t had any panics at School, so I’ve been
able to get away in daylight. I haven’t had any problem with car drivers.
Although Dibbinsdale is a bit exposed, it is quiet at seven in the morning. I
think I’d be happy for a child of mine to cycle to School in daylight during
good weather, although to miss the rush-hour they might arrive rather early.’
All of which shows that becoming more environmentally friendly does have consequences for infrastructure. One Dave Edmunds we can cope with, but if 20 staff and 20 pupils took to their bikes, we might struggle to support them and accommodate the 40 bikes and 40 sets of School clothing. A far cry from 1975, when Overdale alone had 120 spaces in its bike shed.
Putting the whole thing into context was the seminar for Year 8 pupils given by Janet Thorning of the Wirral LA21 Network. Pupils investigated simple ways of reducing consumption, and examined more effective ways of recycling.
Will Hughes, Head of Biology, who has overseen the project with Liz Reeve, School Librarian, feels that this year was just a start. ‘This is an issue that just will not go away. Once councils start charging by weight for emptying our bins we will see a much more careful attitude to waste. And as for climate change, well, most people now have first-hand experience of this relentless process.’
So look forward to more and better information and opportunity, as we try ever harder to make Birkenhead School ‘The Environment of Learning.’
Click on the photograph for a larger image
