Note: Your seminar grade will be determined by the quantity of your responses (how many questions you answer and how many other students you respond to) and the quality (how well you demonstrate an understanding of the ideas you're responding to, how detailed your responses are, how coherent and in-depth they are, etc.)
Directions:
1. Read Last Child in the Woods , pages 113 -234 (Chapters 9-17)
2. Choose two questions from the list below and respond with 3-5 paragraphs. Include quotes and/or specific references to the text to back up your responses.
| Extra Credit Opportunity: Answer an additional question from the list below, and respond to two other students in the discussion topic of your choice. |
No matter what questions you choose, make sure you discuss whether you agree with Schlosser’s assessments and claims, and why.
Time and Nature :
In Chapter 9, "Time and Fear ", Louv discusses what he calls the 'barriers' to our children's exposure to nature? Summarize his ideas about the cultural attitudes and practices that lead to increasing separation from nature. Do you agree with his assessments? Why or why not?
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| Learned Fear : In Chapter 10, "The Bogeyman Syndrome Redux" Louv describes a culture of pervasive fear that our children grow up in. What are the sources of these fears, and why does he think people direct those fears at nature? Do you agree that our fear of nature is as harmful as he seems to think it is? Why or why not? |
| Education v Nature : In Chapter 11, "Don't Know Much About Natural History: Education as a Barrier to Nature ", Louv laments what he calls the 'death of natural science'. Summarize recent trends in American education (especially higher education) that lead him to this conclusion. Why and how does he believe we education children away from nature? Do you agree with his assessments? Why or why not? |
Attachment Theory and Nature :
In Chapter 12, "Where Will Future Stewards of Nature Come From?" Louv discusses the past, present and future of the environmentalist and conservation movement (both formal and informal). He applies attachment theory (a theory long associated with child development and psychology) to children's views of nature. What are his conclusions about how our children are growing up to view nature? Do you agree with his conclusions? Why or why not?
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| From Boredom to Discovery : In Chapter 13, "Bringing Nature Home ", Louv discusses two types of boredom: an 'insidious, new kind of boredom' and what he calls 'constructive boredom'. What are these types of boredom, and how do they work on the developing mind of a child? How can we foster one and discourage the other, according to Louv? Do you agree with his ideas on boredom? Why or why not? |
| The Antidote to Fear : In Chapter 14, "Scared Smart: Facing the Bogeyman ", Louv argues that an unscripted life in nature is the best antidote to the fears that pervade our culture. How does contact with nature dispel imagined threats and prepare children for the real ones, according to Louv? Do you agree with his conclusions? Why or why not? |
| Natural Morality : In Chapter 15, "Telling Turtle Tales ", Louv describes some activities that kids can do in nature that lead to a more moral and compassionate view of the world. How does nature make kids more ethical and moral, according to Louv? Do you agree with his assessment that regular contact with nature fosters a sense of morality? Why or why not? |
| "Real World" Education : In Chapter 16, "Natural School Reform ", Louv lays out his ideas for an environment-based curriculum, which he hopes will ultimately lead to the resurrection of natural sciences. What are the characteristics of this model, and why is it more useful for children than our traditional model? Do you agree with his ideas on education reform? Why or why not? |
| A Nation of Parks : In Chapter 17, "Camp Revival ", Louv discusses his vision for a broader cultural revival of camp for kids. What are the benefits of having places like the ones exemplified in the book, what Louv calls "Childlife Preserves". He argues that such places are worth the investment. Do you agree with his conclusion that we should be dedicating more resources (both private and public) to this goal? Why or why not? |
3. Save your work as a .doc or .rtf document and submit your response by midnight on Monday, 3/17.
4. Post your responses to the appropriate forum by midnight on Monday 3/17.
5. Read all the other students' posts throughout the seminar period.
6. Respond to at least two other student's posts from the discussion topic of your choice (more is better). You will have until midnight, Monday 3/24, to read and respond to the other students' ideas in the website. |