79-10-B8
- Main Page \ Reagan Radio Commentaries \ 1979
| << Previous Broadcast | Next Broadcast >> |
Elementary Energy Lessons[edit]
Transcript[edit]This story is surely a sign of the times. At the Top of the World elementary school in Laguna Beach, California, fourth, fifth and sixth grade kids meet twice a week for special energy classes in what is known as the "energy room." This unique classroom is equipped with appliances of all sorts; two stunted telephone polls, complete with insulators; a gas line which stretches across the classroom; and computer terminals. It's all part of a one-of-a-kind energy program designed to teach the youngsters that there is more to energy than a switch, a socket and a gallon of gas. The $400,000 project is being funded entirely by individual and corporate donors who figure that the best place to begin to teach Americans common sense is with their kids. And they are probably right. While many of their parents are conjuring up sinister oil company conspiracies, the children in this school are learning the nuts-and-bolts of how the energy is produced, how it gets to our homes, why it costs so much, and how the individual family can reduce its energy cost. The most innovative feature of this special program is provided by John Phillips and his Engineering Supervision company. Phillips is the same man who devised a computerized energy savings program for large commercial customers that I described in an earlier broadcast. Now Mr. Phillips has installed a computer terminal in this energy classroom. Then, energy-monitoring devices were hooked up to the homes of a number of children who are participating in the program. This enables a student to see, projected on the computer screen, just how much energy his or her family uses -- and when they use it. The computer measures the energy consumption of each home appliance and shows how the family can save energy arid money by rearranging its use of electricity to avoid peak-load hours. One of the two teachers hired to teach the special energy classes says that the youngsters involved are excited and motivated about energy. The best way to measure this interest, she says, is to compare the rate of completed homework to that in other classes. About 90 percent of the assignments are completed in the energy classes, she explains, compared to less than 50 percent in other subjects. Another learning technique of the program did not go over too well with many parents. Last fall, the students were assigned to spend a weekend without energy. That meant no car travel, electric lights, appliances, telephones and--heaven forbid -- no television from Friday at 6 p.m. to Sunday at 6 p.m. The purpose of the assignment was to learn what it might be like to have to live without energy. The energy education program at this elementary school is an imaginative way to teach youngsters how our energy is produced, priced and allocated -- and how energy and money can be saved with a minimum of inconvenience. Perhaps some government officials should go to this Laguna Beach elementary school to observe and learn. This is Ronald Reagan. Thanks for listening. |
Details[edit]
| |||||||||||
Added Notes[edit] |
