BLM's Childrens Book & Using National Parks as Classrooms

BLM children's book: Tortoise journeys across Arizona The Bureau of Land Management has produced a children's book about a tortoise that takes a 100-year journey across Arizona. "Tori Tortoise Turns 100" features landscapes managed by the BLM throughout Arizona. Tori was born on Feb. 14, 1912, the same day that Arizona became a state, in what would later become the BLM's Ironwood Forest National Monument northwest of Tucson.   

And this article says: 

The book was the brainchild of Pamela Mathis, the BLM Phoenix District public affairs specialist, and Angie Bulletts, Phoenix District manager, Mathis said. The Phoenix District already had started a program to get older youths outdoors and recruit them for BLM careers, so the book is a way to expose younger kids to environmental education, Mathis explained - "so they have a place in their heart for environmental stewardship."

I know you can't wait, so read about Tori The Tortoise here.

Then take a look at what the Interior and  Education Dept's are up to:

Using National Parks as Classrooms Such is the case of an agreement between the Departments of Interior and Education to help local schools use national parks, wildlife refuges and other public lands as classrooms. In a Memorandum of Understanding signed last week by Interior Secretary Ken Salazar and Education Secretary Arne Duncan, the Departments of Interior and Education will pool their existing resources to develop new and effective ways to help local school districts connect young Americans to the outdoors, build their environmental knowledge and experience the benefits of learning outside the classroom. The Obama Administration hopes the agreement will help achieve one of the major goal in its Great Outdoors Initiative of helping more young Americans gain the skills needed to succeed in the conservation and outdoor recreation economy...more

Clearly, the enviros and the federales will use the public schools as a political tool to further their agenda.  There are, however, more productive things we can do.

For instance, let's consider Myrtle The Turtle.  She has survived for hundreds of years on private land and in a free market.  On the other hand, Tori The Tortoise has been coddled by federales in government-issued costumes.  How do we determine which represents the best long-term survival for the species?  I propose a UFC-type MMA battle between Myrtle The Turtle and Tori The Tortoise.  I'm calling Dana White immediately.  My prediction?  Myrtle The Turtle wins at 1 minute in the first round with a rear naked choke (what the hell else can a turtle do?). 

All proceeds from the fight will go to the DuBois Rodeo Scholarship.

Now, for using National Parks in our schools.  I think this is a good idea.  For instance, I know of many schools that need new football fields, and many that would like to have a rodeo arena for their students.  Both would be great uses of Park Service lands!

No, no, I'm wrong.  Instead, tell the feds to keep their clutches off our kids.