Mr. Schecter believes that if a successful demonstration project could be developed, state participation in Coastal America projects will increase. The New England Aquarium, in partnership with Coastal America and the Boston Public Schools, received a grant from the EPA Environmental Justice Small Grants to establish an Environmental Teacher Sabbatical program for 14 middle school teachers. The goal of this program is to develop a cadre of teachers who are prepared to lead the way in developing environmental stewardship among Boston's schoolchildren. Science teachers in the Boston Public Schools were eligible to apply. The program addresses strategies for teaching about environmental issues relevant to the inner-city communities of Boston, and meeting science curriculum standards.
Preliminary evaluations indicate that teachers are highly enthusiastic about the program.
Teachers reported that they found many resources to take back to their classroom and believe that their students will benefit both immediately and in the long run from their participation in the program. A Guide to Coastal and Marine Issues . This booklet, an update of the Reporter's Guide, was updated with the assistance of the Environmental Health Center of the National Safety Council. It includes information on a variety of coastal issues and definitions of coastal terms. Also, it includes descriptions of federal authorities which affect coastal resources.