Multicultural School Garden: Entrance Slip

                  With a societal culture so saturated with artificial representations (such as roads, buildings, sidewalks, etc.) through the process of urbanization, connectives to nature has collectively decreased. When the natural environment gradually dissipates, is there a reason to reconnect -- or is it too dire or futile? Cutter-Mackenzie (2009) emphasizes the importance and necessity for creating safe learning spaces for students. She suggest that integration of community school gardens may be the solution for creating a sense of space and place, especially for second language learners. Evidence of numerous multicultural school gardens from Australian non-government initiatives highlights the importance and benefits derived form these environmental programs including: educational, social, health, inclusiveness, environmental, cultural and language.


                Despite urbanization dissipating the ubiquitous natural beauty every moment, environmental education is intrinsic and highly valued. Even though we may not be as connected to nature as we use to be from previous nomadic lifestyles, the environment is the foundation with humans depend upon, from resources to community dynamics. Small initiatives such as community gardens ingrained into the primary education can re-create the natural appreciation, conservation, sustainability of our home in the future on a generational scale. Aside from obvious benefits such as natural restoration, air purification, and aesthetic beauty, nature has been linked towards improving mental health. By integrating comfortable and inviting place of learning space, inclusiveness of education may flourish, especially for timid, shy, or language-barrier'd' second language learners. Due to cultural and economic similarities between Canada and Australia, we may extrapolate that integrating such community garden initiatives may provide benefits seen within the Australian culture. Not only this may be a strategic plan on a popularity consensus, growing influence of English language learners in the Canadian system may benefit unequivocally in a positive way.