Making an Eco Trip Out of an Ego Trip : Letting an Ego Trip Boost Ecology, Too

Next time you buy a car and register it at the DMV, pause when you get to the box asking if you want a personalized license plate rather than an anonymous number. Pause and think about the environment.

Now, I know that most of us are only thinking. “Do I want my plates to say ‘NEW-MBA’?” But, beyond that, beyond vanity plates themselves, is something altruistic. What’s at stake for North County residents is whether kids in Kate Johnson’s eighth-grade science class in Escondido get their water testing kits, and whether Magnolia Elementary in Carlsbad will be able to plant a school garden so each class of 30 kids has its own living horticulture lab.

This month, schools in those communities as well as Poway and Santee will learn whether they are to be recipients of “Environmental Education License Plate Grant Program Funds” awarded by the California State Department of Education. So far, each has been informed that they’re “recommended for funding” out of an $800,000 pool given to the department this fiscal year.

The surcharge collected by the DMV when you and I opt to have vanity plates ($35 to apply and $20 annually to maintain the plate) amounts to a whopping $35 million each year. Most of this goes to environmental agencies such as the State Air Resources Board, Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, Wildlife Conservation Board, the Coastal Commission and the like.

But, back in 1970, in the glow of the first Earth Day, the legislature decided that “without long term funding . . . environmental education will remain a stepchild of the crowded family of public education,” according to the legislation. Annually since then, grants have been awarded to our schools for courses, equipment and facilities to promote environmental awareness “across the curriculum.”

Even though the individual grants have been modest, they have served to jump-start environmental programs which were then kept rolling.

“The license plate grant two years ago got us launched on our ocean study program, which is now used throughout our science program for kindergarten to sixth grade,” said Principal Jere McInerney of Ecke Elementary in Encinitas. This local program will be honored in a forthcoming state-compiled handbook, “California’s Greatest Hits of Environmental Education.”

Vista is the Southern California location of another exemplary program, nicknamed “CE-PUP” for “Chemical Education for Public Understanding Program.”

It is jointly funded by the Vista School District and the prestigious Lawrence Hall of Science in Berkeley. The program provides environmentally oriented chemistry kits to schools nationwide. Vista teacher Mike Reeske is assigned to run the program regionally.

In Escondido, Johnson’s license plate grant application is to provide additional kits for elementary students. Such supplies are surprisingly popular, Johnson says. The kids “truly love the lab work on water pollution and testing for hazardous materials.”

Poway Principal Susan Van Zant at Morning Creek Elementary is planning a “living lab” study project at nearby Chicharita Creek, a 1,000 year old Native American habitat being preserved in its natural state. A curated display of artifacts and natural specimens is being assembled in cooperation with the city and Pardee Construction. The creek site where the specimens were found has been permanently dedicated as open space.

In Carlsbad, Magnolia Elementary parents are supporting a “science through gardening” program by paying for 12 “raised beds” on an empty lot at the school. According to parent leader Kristi Fordahl, the expected license plate funds would be used to build 12 more, for a teacher and parent volunteer training workshop and to purchase related curriculum materials.

Teachers or PTA groups interested in “license plate grants” may call the local schools for advice.

And, anyone considering applying for license plates saying “SURFER” or “CAL DOC” can enjoy giving a boost to environmental education--as well as their vanity.

Richard Kahlenberg is a free-lance writer who has been involved with environmental issues for 20 years. ENVIRONMENTAL

EDUCATION

Statewide: Environmental Education California License Plate Grant Program, (916) 657-2761.

Encinitas: Ecke Elementary (Principal Jere McInerney) 944-4323

Carlsbad: Magnolia Elementary (PTA Kristi Fordahl) 434-0634

Escondido: Valley Center Middle School (Kate Johnson) 749-8555

For environmental education curriculum materials, call Chemical Education for Public Understanding, 749-8177 or Life Lab “Science Through Gardening” project (408) 459-2001