Gov’t-Created Calendar for Teachers Includes 'National Pollution Prevention Week'
The event appears on a teachers' calendar offered at Kids.gov, the U.S. government's official web portal for children.
The recommended activities for National Pollution Prevention Week include a few coloring books, which teach children, ages preschool-to-grade-three, to think like little environmental activists.
"Sometimes pollution happens when oil tankers break up at sea," reads one of the pages in an "Auntie Pollution" coloring book offered at Kids.gov.
Auntie Pollution (get it?) is a grandmotherly scold who approves of clean air and water and disapproves of sewage treatment plants and fossil fuels.
"Is the sewer plant in your city adequate?" reads the caption on another page that shows Auntie Pollution frowning at pollution from sewage leaks and smokestacks.
On another page, Auntie Pollution suggests that children should enjoy a day at the beach by picking up litter.
The Kids.gov website also offers an EPA coloring book for young children: "In lots of places, houses are crowded together," says one page. "There is still too much dirty air and water," reads another. And: "There is too much traffic." "And too much noise."
"But things are getting better," says a later page. "We can preserve our unspoiled land," says another. "And someday the earth will be a nicer place."
In addition to “National Pollution Prevention Week,” the government-created teachers’ calendar for September also lists Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15- October 15); National Preparedness Month; Labor Day (Sept. 2); National Grandparents Day (Sept. 8); Patriot Day and National Day of Service and Remembrance (Sept. 11); Anniversary of Francis Scott Key Penning The Star Spangled Banner (Sept. 14); Constitution Day (Sept. 17); First Day of Fall (Sept. 22); and National Public Lands Day (Sept. 28).