Making the case for school gardens as classrooms
By Tiara Blue -
Tiara Blue’s son Dawson sits in a upraised bed of strawberry plants in their family garden. (Tiara Blue)
TISHOMINGO — Gardening should be taught in schools, and not just because food is kind of important.
School gardens have been tied to higher standardized test scores, fewer discipline problems, lower stress among students and increased engagement, in addition to more fine-tuned personal qualities, such as patience, attention to detail and improvisation.
According to REAL School Gardens, a nonprofit operating in Texas and Washington, D.C., its participating schools have reported increases for standardized test scores pass rates of “between 12-15 percent.” What’s more, 94 percent of teachers reported increased student engagement.
So why aren’t all schools investing in a garden? Inevitably, the conversation goes back to money.
Amidst a $900 million budget shortfall, Oklahoma now leads the country in inflation-adjusted funding cuts for per-pupil education, dropping 24.2 percent from 2008 to 2016, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. Our state is now ranked near the very bottom of the country for teacher pay and per-pupil spending.
It begs the questions: When schools are already so squeezed for money and teachers are strained for time and resources, how can anyone suggest adding something else to their plate?
Because something has to change.
DATA POINT33.9 % of Oklahoma children are obese. School gardens have been linked to increased physical activity and a greater likelihood that participating students will eat fresh fruits and vegetables, which could reduce this number.
Oklahoma isn’t a friendly place for families hoping to give their children a competitive education, and it hasn’t been for several years. Incorporating gardening into the curriculum could give us that competitive edge. If Making the case for school gardens as classrooms - NonDoc: