POWELL RIVER, B.C. – Cuts to the agriculture ministry, staff layoffs and a depressed farm economy have not dampened the enthusiasm for British Columbia’s agriculture in the classroom program.
It’s a shooting star for the province where the agricultural community is solidly behind efforts to educate the public about the value of B.C. farmers.
“It initially spilled over the border from Alberta to Peace River country. That’s where ag in the classroom grassroots really are,” said Linde Cherry. The first push came from the B.C. Women’s Institute, led by Patsy Nagel.
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Cherry, a member of the ag in the classroom board that includes farmers, government and industry people, said the goal of the privately funded program is to reach every elementary school in the province. She represents the B.C. Farm Women’s Network.
This October a co-ordinator, Lindsay Babineau, was hired to run the program. A teacher and curriculum writer, Babineau co-ordinates the provincial program from an office in Abbotsford, south of Vancouver.
Since the program started, Babineau’s office has received requests from 336 teachers wanting material for their classrooms.
“Right now we’re concentrating on the primary grades because the teachers have so much more flexibility in the curriculum,” said Cherry.
They are also working with Alberta Agriculture because there are already many available teacher and classroom resources developed there. B.C. eventually wants to tailor a program to reflect its own agricultural scene.
While the Alberta program is supported with government and industry money, the B.C. program relies on corporate donations and fund-raising.
A main thrust is to go directly to teachers because material simply sent to schools may never reach the classroom, said Cherry.
So far, several programs are offered.
A computer game called Farm Jeopardy is available to teachers.
Next summer, a teacher’s institute will be held at the University of B.C. campus farm. Teachers will receive university credit for learning how to present the programs and each must design a resource package for their classroom. The institute can accept 25 teachers.
In addition, workshops are available for producers who want to enter a classroom or learn how to run school tours on their farms.
Agriculture in the classroom was responsible for a program called Taking the Farm to the City, in which 4-H members, animals, tractors and producers traveled to a Burnaby school, near Vancouver, for one day earlier this fall.
The group is examining the B.C. school curriculum to see where agriculture may fit. Such programs walk a fine line because all material must be unbiased, with no promotional material.
“You have to be extremely neutral where you tell both sides of the story,” said Cherry.-
