Butterfly book and supplies info needed...

[Mark Walker]

Randy Emmitt wrote some stuff to an educator that was genuinely interested
in stimulating his students to perform an interactive and scientific study
of insects.  Like so much of what is being projected by well-meaning and
environmentally minded folks, Randy has discouraged real science by his
denouncing the collecting and killing of insects.  This is really an
unfortunate attitude.

Are we going to ask the biology teachers to stop dissections as well?  How
can we begin to hope that any of the young students of today will begin to
have an interest in things scientific - an interest in learning why things
should be conserved in the first place - if we aren't allowed to perform
science in the classroom?

Not to mention my ongoing issue with the hypocrisy of it all.  Who is anyone
to make another feel guilty about the way that they interact with the
natural world?  We're all guilty of trampling, consuming, and spewing - none
can claim a higher level of achievement when it comes to conservation.  We
leave scars where we step, we deplete what we consume, and we leave refuse
where we spew.  Self-righteousness doesn't play well here any more than it
does else where.

Please don't lay guilt trips on people who are doing the right sorts of
things.  Teaching children about the world of insects through nets, killing
jars, and spreading boards is good for science and good for conservation.

Mark Walker
Mission Viejo, CA

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Randy Emmitt [mailto:birdcr at CONCENTRIC.NET]
> Sent: Wednesday, March 29, 2000 4:11 PM
> To: minnehan at infinet.com
> Cc: leps-l at lists.yale.edu
> Subject: Re: Butterfly book and supplies info needed...
> 
> 
> Randy,
> 
> Please don`t take this in the wrong light. With young kids these days
> learning good things like recycling and hopefully a little 
> conservation, you
> might just consider changing your plan just a little.
> 
> How about getting a few good field guides like Jeffrey Glassberg`s
> Butterflies thru Binoculars(eastern US) and/or Paul Opler/Amy Bartlett
> Wright`s Western Butterflies Peterson Field Guide(western 
> US). And then get
> your nets and a few temporary holding jars (recycled) and let the kids
> capture the butterflies study them, then release them after 
> they find out
> what they are.
> 
> Another thing you could do is use a digital/video camera to 
> capture the
> butterfly and upload the photos to a PC and or a web site 
> like Harlen Aschen
> does with his class room at http://www.homestead.com/vcs/
> 
> There`s many more possiblities of what you could do without 
> harming the
> butterflies and I`m sure the children would learn a great deal more.
> 
> Sincerely,
> 
> Randy L Emmitt, Nature Photographer
> Rougemont, NC
> Butterflies found in NC online!
> http://www.rlephoto.com/butterflies/butterflies.html
> 
> Randy Minnehan wrote:
> 
> > Hi everyone,
> >
> >    I am a elementary school teacher (Grade 4), and I'm 
> looking for a few
> > things for my classroom, getting ready for an in-depth 
> exploration of
> > butterflies by my students.  This is a wonderful age for engaging
> > students and creating live-long interest in science.  
> First, I'm looking
> > for a book... I was told the "bible" of professional leps 
> is BUTTERFLIES
> > OF THE WORLD by Paul Smarts.  Is this true?  I cannot seem 
> to find any
> > information on it... I guess it's out-of-print, but I 
> cannot locate a
> > copy anywhere.  Anyone know where I might be able to find a 
> new or used
> > copy of this book?  Can you suggest any other excellent 
> butterfly books
> > I might look for?  I'm not looking for books geared towards younger
> > students, I'm just looking for the best reference sources available.
> >
> >    Also, I'm looking for supplies... butterfly nets, 
> mounting boards,
> > the works.  Can someone direct me to a good source, 
> preferably with a
> > web page?  Any suggestions where to locate inexpensive yet excellent
> > sources for finished, prepared butterfly mounts?
> >
> >    Any help or direction would be appreciated!
> >
> >    Thanks!
> >    R. Minnehan
>