LETTER: CG-B school board’s land use benefits students and nature

To Ozaukee Press:

For decades, we Americans have used and abused our natural resources. We continue to put unwanted materials in our soil, air and water, the latest being small particles of plastic. Not only are these materials harmful to the ecological world, but also to our own health and well-being. A century ago, our forefathers, and before them the Native Americans, respected our natural resources because they were an intricate part of their lives. They enjoyed working with the soil, using the products of the woods while limiting their use of water. Yes, us old timers still remember the Saturday evening bath, one tubful was used by the entire family. The dirtiest ones were the last to bathe.

Unfortunately, with progress, our society has become an urban society. No longer do children have the opportunity of planting gardens, raising crops and getting their hands dirty with soil. We have taken away their opportunity to appreciate and respect Mother Nature.

I applaud the Cedar Grove-Belgium School Board for the decision to convert agricultural property into a community and educational resource.

I suspect there are individuals who oppose this decision, but sometimes we need to sacrifice cropland for the betterment of our society. This acreage can provide our students with an opportunity to interact with nature. There are numerous activities that students can do there that are equally important to what is offered in the classroom curriculum.

Other school districts have already recognized the benefits of these facilities. Let’s join them in providing our students with an opportunity to interact with nature and in doing so become better stewards of our environment. Let’s all join in and support this project for the good of our students and Mother Earth.

Hubert Nett

Cedar Grove

Editor’s note: The letter refers to the School Board’s decision to end the lease of a 30-acre tract of school district land to a local farmer with the possibility of turning it into an outdoor education center. Hubert Nett is a retired Cedar Grove-Belgium High School science teacher.