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The course was introduced in September 2022 to our DP cohort as an option for a Group 4 science credit for those students who might not be on a post-secondary science path. The course is a blend of Geography, Environmental Science, Biology, Ethics, Political Science…. You get the idea. At one point this year, I turned to our first Grade 12 ESS group and said, “This may just be the most important course you take in high school!”
I am sure every department in the school would react to such a claim, but the things we are learning about in the course could empower our students to help change the world and heal the planet. To me, that is something desperately needed in society.
Regardless of the importance of this course to the planet, I love teaching it because it tackles so many of the issues that are meaningful to humans today. We discuss pollution, poverty, climate change, agriculture, biodiversity, and, of course, conservation. As this course continues to develop, we are hoping to connect to our greater Vancouver Island community and tap into the wonderful work that is being done by individuals and organizations in our local area.
An example of this was our recent field trip to Ucluelet to work with an environmental restoration non-profit called Redd Fish Restoration, which is working at restoring salmon habitat and old-growth ecosystems in that area of the island. The field trip was a joint venture between ESS and another amazing course at GNS called IB Global Politics.
Ten of our students got to go by boat to a work site and get their hands dirty planting trees and restoring an old logging road back to nature. What an amazing learning experience for our future world changers.
As the need for a more sustainable society increases, educating young people on the why and how of making a more sustainable planet seems to make a lot of sense. This course is a great addition to an already diverse program of study here at GNS.
Who knows, one day one of our amazing alumni might email me and say “Mr. Basaraba, ESS was the most important class I took at GNS!” and, as our students become the leaders and decision-makers moving our province and country forward to a brighter future, I might just have to agree.
