Reflection

I believe that this class has changed my mind about the environment. Before this class I was very skeptical of global warming, especially due to the cold weather we had been experiencing. After learning about global warming and what it actually was my mind changed. On a personal level, I have been much more aware of my purchases. I own an aluminum drinking bottle instead of buying plastic bottles, but much of the time I leave it at home and end up buying bottled water. I have made a conscious effort to bring my own water bottle with me when I go places now. I have also become more aware of recycling, checking to make sure everything I throw away can not be recycled first. I have also caught myself lecturing my friends and family to make more environmentally friendly choices.

From an academic standpoint I have found that the progressive education style infused with the traditional style is very effective. We went on several field trips in the classroom allowing us to experience what we were being taught in the traditional style first hand. As an education major, I have learned that all students no matter their age have a falling off point during lectures where their attention span is shot. The field trips added a different twist to the class (this is the only college class I have had that takes you on field trips). This leads me to how this class has affected me in relationship to my major, and minor. I would like to be a high school American History teacher and this class has taught me the importance of progressive education as well as teaching students ecological history. I believe that ecological history can easily be infused into history lessons. For example, while studying the industrial revolution students can look at how the environment began to change, and how that affected the people. Progressive education is important for students and while I may not be able to take them on as many field trips as we went on in this class, I can definitely use more of a progressive standpoint while teaching. Shorter lectures, and more class discussion and group work.

I believe the high points of the class were the field trips and class discussions. The field trips really allowed us to experience nature first hand in relation to what we had been reading and talking about in class. I especially enjoyed the field trip to echo because not only does the organization practice environmentally friendly methods, but they teach people in developing countries. This helpspeople in poverty stricken areas as well as spreading the word about protecting our environment. I liked the class discussions because they allowed me to see other student's opinions and compare them with mine. I found that some of the concepts of global warming were quite difficult to understand because I am not very science savvy. I think that maybe looking at global warming from an elementary standpoint may have helped me understand better.

FGCU

I personally believe that FGCU is doing a very good job modeling sustainability. I believe that in the past two years FGCU has made a major effort to increase their sustainability cause. I know that my first two years at FGCU, I honestly did not even know that the school was considered a "sustainable or green" school. It was not until I took issues in science and tech that I realized the efforts of FGCU. I then started to notice certain aspects of sustainability. I am not sure if I was ignorant of it for my freshman and sophomore year or if it just was not as obvious.

FGCU models sustainability first and foremost through the immense solar field that was put in last year. While driving down Ben Hill Griffin road the field is in view. While doing my research for our presentation on the chapters I found that FGCU was one of two schools that had solar farms in the United States. FGCU also has trash compactors around campus as well as trash cans for recycling. Campus housing put in new recycling centers as well. I know as a freshman living on campus all trash went to the dumpster and that was it, there were no recycling centers. We learned in class that FGCU is part of a nature preserve program and in order to build on more land they must preserve more land elsewhere. While at times, this may be a hassle for the school, it is great for the preservation of the environment and a great model for other schools.

As silly as it may sound, FGCU also looks sustainable. The campus is built around swampy wetlands. The boardwalks to and from class not only make it a scenic walk but students are more in touch with nature here than other schools. For example, at FSU, UF, or UM campus is mainly a plethora of cement and brick buildings with not much nature. FGCU has strives to make the campus environmentally friendly and I think they do a great job. My friends are always amazed when they come to visit and they see the way our campus looks.

Overall, FGCU does a great job modeling sustainability. I believe that the colloquium class is important for all students to take so they know the importance of preserving and restoring our environment. I know many students complain about having to take the class but I believe ecological literacy is a must for all college students today. Education means power, and it is the only way things will change.

Downtown Field Trip

As a history major, I found the downtown field trip very interesting because there is so much history around downtown Fort Myers. I really liked the statue of Henry Ford, Thomas Edison, and Firestone because it showed the important figures living and collaborating in Fort Myers. I also really like that there has been a major effort to maintain and restore the history of the city. Many of the buildings have been there for years, such as the Kress building. We learned that the awnings attached to many of the buildings are restored as well. Another building I found interesting was the postal office, I like that they kept the same building, and the sushi looked good!

The social and economic roles of downtown have gradually changed over time. In the early years the town was used for cattle ranching, which was very significant for the Confederates during the Civil war. The North used many blockades to cut off food supply to the South, so the cattle ranching industry in Ft. Myers was very influential. Slowly the town became a tourist industry after Henry Ford and Thomas Edison built their winter estates on the Caloosahatchee River. The city is still a place of tourism today, of course with most downtown areas, banking and business do prosper in the area.

The use of the Caloosahatchee River has definitely changed over the years. The river was basically a highway during the Civil War era and after until the automobile became a common use of transportation. Today the Caloosahatchee River is used mainly for leisure and fun. Today it is common to see boaters, jet skiers, and fishing on the river. Before, the city was ever established the Calusa Indians inhabited the area. Unfortunately, none of the Calusas are living today, there have been some theories that they migrated to Cuba but it is not proven.

Overall, Downtown Fort Myers, has much more of a historical record than I anticipated and i really enjoyed the field trip.

Poverty

This entry speaks to me because I have been involved in community efforts to help end poverty for most of my life. My family and church are big on helping out in our community and I have spent countless hours serving food to the homeless at the Cooperative Feeding Program in Fort. Lauderdale.

An impoverished area I have been to recently is the city of Immokalee. I am writing my senior history paper on Immokalee so I have spent a lot of time researching the area. When driving on Main Street in Immokalee you will see below sub standard housing, mostly of which consists of mobile homes that sometimes hold up to ten people at a time for ridiculous amounts of money. The buildings are mostly all in Spanish and are falling apart. When driving down Main Street there are many people walking around or riding bikes because most of the people who live there do not own automobiles. As you drive further down Main Street you will see the big Tomato Corporations that basically maniuplate and control the migrant population of Immokalee. It is sad that there are people who live in such poor standards, and work for long hours doing laborous work and yet they only make 45 cents for each 32 lb bucket they fill of tomatoes. This is happening in our backyard and yet many people choose to ignore it.

I believe there are many contributing factors to the conditions of Immokalee but I think one of the main reasons is the fact that many of Immokalee's residents are immigrants and they refuse to report abuse and wage gouging becuase they are scared they will be deported back to their countries. They are not aware of the United States' legal system. Corporations take advantage of their helplesness and it becomes a vicious cycle. I believe this is a very important crisis that should be taken more seriously but many people do not bleieve it is our job to help because of the fact that most Immokalee residents are immigrants. I believe it is a question of humanity. There have been many cases of involuntary servitude and abuse. Regardless if they are immigrants or not, it is ethically and morally wrong. The issues in Immokalee interlock with the major crisis of poverty in urban areas of the United States because they are all living under similar condtitions and engaging in low paying jobs.

I believe that hope and success are achievable for the Immokalee community if more people are educated on what is actually going on. The Coalition for Immokalee Workers have been very successful in aiding the migrant population with big wins over corporations like Yum Yum brands, McDonalds, Subway, Whole Foods, and Burger King. Although the money that was promised has not been passed on to the migrants because of the Florida Tomato Growers Exchange, the CIW is creating a sense of community among the workers and also bringing the issues in Immokalee to the public's attention.