While delivering Sustainable Whanganui Trust's "Fruit Trees in Schools" programme, we have discovered that often young helpers have little concept of fruit production. While busy planting and talking with the pupils we have been told "I didn't know that you needed flowers to get apples!", and that dormant trees with no leaves "must be dead". A 4-year-old even asserted that "apples come from the supermarket". And it was a lie to say they came off trees!
These observations suggest to us that while great "unit standard" results, and having computers and "tablets" for all provides the outcomes our current education minister seeks, there is a real need for children to go outside and kick the autumn leaves, and think about where they came from and why! Our children need to know and understand about deciduous trees, the seasons and their effects on the trees and our environment.
We need children that make observations, are taught to ask questions, and derive answers for themselves. Not just look up someone else's answer on the internet.
Ruud Kleinpaste of "Bug Man" fame has pointed out that, since about 2008, more people on the planet live in cities than outside them. Even in New Zealand, many children today don't have lives that include outdoor experiences such as children of the 60s and 70s did. In fact, their parents probably missed out too.
Ruud went on to comment that he likes to provide the environmental experiences to 8 to 11-year-olds. Waiting till they are savvy science students in high school is way too late, he says. We'd suggest starting before they reach formal schooling.
