Beverage Bottle Ban
ESL teachers ban all sorts of things from their classrooms, including native languages, electronic dictionaries, iPods and other gadgets. Why not add plastic bottles and paper cups to the list?
Though many people have begun carrying reusable bottles and cups for both hot and cold beverages, many have not. ESL students and teachers consume mass amounts of bottled water and take-out coffee products every school day.
Some churches, conferences, and businesses are now banning bottled water, so why not classrooms? Would your school administration consider having a coffee pot in the lounge? Students and staff can take turns bringing in supplies to share. If the water is not safe for drinking at your school, why not invest in an environmentally friendly water cooler? Make it an English only water cooler, and remind students that the water cooler is a great place to practise small talk.
Anything that comes with an initial price tag can be difficult when it comes to convincing administrators. Keep in mind that “green is in”, and the administration may be interested in investing in green alternatives to attract more students. If you can’t convince the whole school, simply be the change you want to see, and implement the bottle ban in your own classroom.
If a beverage bottle ban seems too extreme even for your own classroom, consider “Tap only Tuesdays” or “Waste free Wednesdays”. These types of weekly rituals naturally form into long-term habits.
Check out this interesting power point presentation on The Bottled Water Disaster.
October 2009 | Filed under The Environment
Tara Benwell is a Canadian freelance writer and editor who specializes in materials for the ELT industry.
