We live in a media centered age. People are more aware of events, tragedies, sensational items and scandals than ever before. A topic that has been getting hotter in the news all the time, because of its possible drastic complications involving the public, the government and industry, is the hazardous waste problem. Because it is such a hot news item and because it does have implications for our students in the future, I have chosen the hazardous waste dilemma as my unit topic.
Some far reaching lessons can be learned from a unit on a current topic such as this. First of all the children will be able to follow stories of what is being done about hazardous wastes as they happen. They will get an idea of how the government works when faced with a pressing problem. They will see how community and environmental groups organize and attack problems that threaten the welfare of the public. The significance of such studies can only be enlightening. Students will become more aware of the news and what government decisions mean to them. More importantly, they may become more concerned with community problems and learn to exercise the proper means of protest afforded them by their local government. The result of such a study may be a more aware citizenry who will not allow problems to become as immense as the hazardous waste one has.