Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
educators, and community members fail to engender this sensitivity in our
youth, then what implications will this have for the natural world and ulti-
mately the sustainability of the human species? (Peter Senti, unpublished,
2009)
Aldo Leopold had a similar thought, “Obligations have no meaning without con-
science, and the problem we face is the extension of the social conscience from peo-
ple to the land. No important change in ethics was ever accomplished without an in-
ternal change in our mental emphasis, loyalties, affections, and convictions”
(Leopold 1949). Seeing ourselves as partners in restoring and sustaining the function-
ality and beauty of natural ecosystems constitutes such an internal change. Earth Part-
nership for Schools can foster this change in present and future generations.
***
Roots Go Deep
Sandy Kucinski, unpublished, 2008
The red pines stand tall
while Nina speaks of their planting.
The others listen intently
with thoughts of teaching.
“Don't rest,” says Nina.
“Don't rest,” say the others.
Let the roots go deep.
A plaque stands where
the burr oak stood.
Do the roots intertwine
deep underground?
“Rest,” says the sawyer.
“Don't rest,” say the others.
Let roots stay deep.
Plant young, plant strong.
Plant prairies, trees and children . . .
. . . let the roots go deep.
“Rest,” says the sawyer.
“Don't rest,” say the others.
Let the roots run deep.
***
Written during the RESTORE Institute in honor of a visit with Nina Leopold Bradley at
the Leopold Shack near Baraboo, Wisconsin, on July 16, 2008. Inspired by “The Good
Oak” essay in
A Sand County Almanac
(Leopold 1949). Poem reprinted with the kind per-
mission of Sandy Kucinski.
