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Reed encourages schools to include recycling in daily routine Learn Green, Live Green focus for March: Recycle
Superintendent of Public Instruction Dr. Suellen Reed today encouraged schools to focus on recycling throughout this month as part of the Indiana Department of Education’s initiative “Learn Green, Live Green.” The March initiative is part of a year-long focus on environmental education announced by Reed in January. “The best way to get into the habit of recycling is to make recycling part of your daily routine,” said Reed. “It is not only important to recycle used materials, but also to be conscious of purchasing items made from recycled materials. Rensselaer students doing their part It is commonly known that paper, plastic bottles and aluminum cans can be recycled, but many may not know materials such as inkjet printer cartridges, used batteries and even old computers can be recycled as well. Two years ago, Rensselaer Central Middle School Science Teacher Mark Heinig created Bombers StRUT (Students Recycling Used Technology). This innovative program, designed to recycle old computers, teaches students skills in technology while helping their fellow classmates in the process. “I’m always looking for ways to increase technology usage,” said Heinig. “[The school] was recycling the old computers with the city anyway. Then, I thought it would be great to give students who don’t have computers the old ones.” Students who participate in the program spend their advisory period (homeroom) learning how to clear hard drives, install memory and new operating systems in old computers donated from the school and community members. Once rebuilt, the computers are then given to classmates who do not have access to technology at home. To view photos and read more about this program as well as what other schools are doing across the state, go online to www.doe.in.gov/green and click on Spotlight. Learn Green, Live Green Learn Green, Live Green is designed to help educators, students, parents and community members discover practical, cost-effective ways to model environmentally-responsible behavior both inside and outside of the classroom. The Learn Green, Live Green concept fits naturally with Indiana’s academic standards, local school curricula and student learning goals at each grade level. Local participation is completely voluntary. Each month in 2008, the Indiana Department of Education spotlights a different aspect of the issue through an interactive Web site, www.doe.in.gov/green, while offering a variety of related resources for schools and communities.
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Indiana Department of Education |
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