New Business Item Statement  (April 30, 2022)

For years, students from across our state have been demanding action on climate change. Oregon Educators for Climate Education is mostly composed of  OEA members  who have  been working with teachers and students from across the state to develop a place-based, hope-inspiring legislative vision for K-12 climate education. Older students are concerned about their younger siblings, cousins and friends. And we all know  elementary students can be nurtured to grow in their love, appreciation, and sense of connection to nature, as well as their understanding of where things come from and where they go. Teachers of all subjects  can be part of these efforts. Art, poetry, writing , science experiments, mathematical modeling, and nutrition and health, all complement this work. In this proposal, students can see themselves as part of the solutions in the present and for the future. This is particularly important for students of color, who already are disproportionately impacted by a changing environment. Oregon legislators with knowledge of this work have already expressed their support, and would like to see these plans come to fruition in the 2023 legislative cycle. We are ever-broadening our coalition, and today we ask the assembled delegates of the Oregon Education Association to approve this new business item, to support this work, help refine it with increased member voice, and use a small portion of OEA's resources to promote a collective vision among lawmakers during and ahead of the 2023 legislative session. We invite you, check out oregonclimateed.org. Again, that's oregonclimateed.org. Thank you.

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