Many Chinese students say that they have almost no time to play outdoors with their friends. They have to spend a lot of time on their homework and study every day. How about the students in the UK? According to a new report, only 21% of children aged 8-12 have regular contact (定期接触) with the natural world.
Some experts worry that the lack of contact with nature may be bad for children’s health, education and behavior. Others suggest different ways to help solve the problem. Monty Don, a famous British television gardener gives us a simple answer—he says gardening (园艺) should be taught in every school in Britain.
According to Monty, gardening is the simplest way to get children outside to enjoy fresh air and sunlight. “Give students space big enough to let them grow their own plants. They must care for their plants, so they will run out to see them every day.” Monty thinks looking after plants each day will make them become more responsible (负责任的). “The nature world becomes part of their real life, not just something they watch on television”