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Volume 47 Edition 21
Iowa House approves bill to benefit teachers’ salaries
Representatives say bill encourages college graduates to teach in Iowa, raises teacher pay to 25th in nation
With a vote of 907, on Thursday, April 5, the Iowa House endorsed a bill in favor of increasing teacher pay over the next two years. The bill will provide an extra $70 million for teacher salaries for the fiscal Josh Betts year that starts July Sports Editor 1, and $75 million the following fiscal year. The bill now must go back to the Iowa Senate for a vote due to the amendments made by the Iowa House. If this passes, the state of Iowa will spend $141 million for teacher pay and benefits during the 2007-2008 school year, and $232 million the next year. For this upcoming fiscal year, Iowa teachers will see an extra $3,600 in their paychecks. The year after that, Iowa teachers will see another
News Analysis
$5,400 raise through this bill. If passed by the Iowa Senate, Iowa Governor Chet Culver is expected to sign the measure when it hits his desk, and it is just a step to move Iowa up the ladder of teacher pay rankings in the U.S. “I am optimistic the legislature will increase teacher pay this session,” Culver said. “Both Republicans and Democrats understand how important it is to keep our excellent teachers here in Iowa, so I am confident this bill will receive bipartisan support.” According to the 2004 Survey and Analysis of Teacher Salary Trends by the American Federation of Teachers, Iowa ranked 42nd in the nation in teacher pay, something that Culver wants to change. “I believe we have excellent teachers in Iowa, and they deserve an increase in pay,” Culver said. “We have promised over and over again to get their pay to the national average, and I proposed a budget in January that takes the first step to getting Iowa teacher’s pay to 25th in the nation. We can’t have our teachers leaving to teach in other states that pay their teachers more than we do here, which is why it is so critical we fulfill our promise to raise their pay.” A contact was made to Republican Representative Tami Wiencek of Waterloo, but was not returned. The national average for teacher pay according to the 2004 Survey and Analysis of Teacher Salary Trends was $46,597 for an experienced teacher, and $31,704 for a starting salary. In the state of Iowa, the average salary was $38,381.
Another difficulty that the state of Iowa has experienced with it’s teacher pay being below the national average is college education graduates moving out of state to earn more money. Culver said he believes in first time homebuyer mortgage assistance and loan forgiveness for teachers willing to teach in areas of need, and as way to keep graduates in the state. State Senator Jeff Danielson, a Democrat from Cedar Falls, said there are ways to keep college education major graduates in the state. “We could help student loans if teachers agree to work in shortage areas,” Danielson said. “We could offer incentives for advanced degrees so they can progress faster in their careers than in other states, and we can offer a health care plan for teachers and their families to help with the skyrocketing costs of health care. The bottom line is there are many ways we can offer teachers a compelling reason to stay in Iowa—but the ability to earn a decent wage is a priority.” While keeping teachers in the state is a top objective of legislators, the fact remains that many other professions around the country pay more than a teaching job does. In 2004, accountants in the U.S. on average made $9,505 more than teachers, assistant professors made $3,198 more than teachers and attorneys made $43,392 more than teachers. While raising teacher pay is a hot-button issue, a new method of raising teacher pay has been proposed in some states, and that is the issue of performance-based, or merit, pay. Merit pay frequently makes students’ scores on standardized tests a determining factor as to whether teachers would get a raise. Several districts in certain states have implemented merit-based pay plans for their teachers. In 2006, the Columbus, Ohio, school district approved a $12.5 million grant to help expand merit pay. According to a November 6, 2006, article in the Columbus Dispatch, the bonuses are based on the skill of the teacher as observed and evaluated in the classroom, student’s improvement on tests and the school’s improvement. Proponents of performance-based pay say it is a powerful type of school reform that would reduce teacher’s absences and help to weed out the weakest educators. Critics say that tying teacher’s raises to student’s performance on standardized tests is not a true measure of a teacher’s work, and that a student’s exam cannot measure how hard a teacher works at his or her job. A Des Moines Register poll, published on November 16, 2006, shows that Iowans are virtually split on the idea of performance-based pay. The poll showed that 44 percent of Iowans surveyed said they agreed with the idea of performancebased pay, while 48 percent of Iowans disagreed
Average Teacher Pay in the Midwest
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with the concept. The Institute For Tomorrow’s Workforce (IWF), created in 2005 by then Governor Vilsack. has the mission of coming up with ways to improve education in the state of Iowa. The bill in the legislature would authorize 10 pay-forperformance sites (districts) next year, and 20 the year after. Under a plan created by the IWF, Iowa’s teachers would move up a “career ladder,” a four-step process with teacher’s moving “up the ladder” (salary increases) tied to student performance. With this ladder in place, the initial minimum salary would be $32,000, and $3,000 more in subjects or schools that are deemed “hard-tostaff.” With academic growth for a majority of students, a teacher could move up to the “Career Teacher,” and would earn a minimum of $42,000, and with more academic improvement, a teacher could move up to the “Career II” level, which would raise the minimum teacher salary to at least $62,000. For the top level, the “Advanced Teacher” minimum would be $92,000. “I believe we must first increase teacher pay to 25th in the nation and pay our Iowa teachers what they deserve,” Culver said. “After this is accomplished, I will listen to what legislators and other interest groups have to say with regards to other issues related to teacher pay.” State Rep. Doris Kelley of Cedar Falls, who serves on the House Education Committee, said
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that the standards by which the legislature wants teachers to be judged need to be changed. “I believe teachers who work extra hard ought to get extra money, but the problem is the standard by which the legislature wants teachers to be judged,” Kelley said. “Many are wanting merit increases to be tied to student performance, which is unusually measured by comprehensive assessment testing. These scores can be a misleading judge of a teacher’s work output. Those who teach honors classes, for example, preside over students who already are advanced in their abilities and are likely to score well regardless of the instruction. Those who teach remedial classes may work harder yet have students who score lower. Pay for performance is a competitive process, and it can be a divisive thing.”
Correction In the April 4 edition of the Tiger Hi-line, the price for the 2008 Italy and Greece trip with Kevin Stewart was incorrectly listed at $4,959. That is actually the adult price for the trip. Students who wish to go only need to pay $4,056. The staff of the Tiger Hi-line apologizes for the misinformation and any confusion that may have resulted. For more information about the trip visit myexplorica.com, Tour ID Center Login: Stewart-3631.
Tiger
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Our View
OPINION
Push U.S. administration to react to severity of climate change studies Last week, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) predicted a global temperature increase of 3.2 to 7.2 degrees fahrenheit within this century. Other projections included a rise in sea levels by 28 to 43 centimeters and increasingly intense tropical storms, flooding and droughts. The panel of 2,500 highly qualified scientists from many different countries also concluded that climate change was “very likely” caused by human activity. The IPCC report, based on hundreds of studies, was then scrupulously discussed in all-night sessions. Much of the objections to specific wording and information presented by scientists came from the United States, China and Saudi Arabia. The IPCC came to a comprimise and decided to eliminate all adjectives indicating the certainty of the report. But the director of the World Wildlife Fund global climate change program, Hans Verolme, said, “The urgency of this report prepared by the world’s top scientists should be matched by an equally urgent response from governments,” and that, “doing nothing is not an option.” In another development in environmmental policy last week, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has the authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions under the Clean Air Act. They concluded that, under the Clean Air Act, carbon dioxide and other heat-trapping emissions are “air pollutants,” and that the government has the authority to curb them. This was the culmination of the EPA’s fouryear battle against the Bush administration to begin an effort to regulate carbon emissions. This will hopefully persuade Congress to create more comprehensive legislation regarding greenhouse gas emissions. Many states, cities, environmental groups and administrators have followed suit with new legislation to curb carbon emissions. Furthermore, the state of Iowa needs to seriously consider its responsibility in this country. Cities like Des Moines and Decorah have drawn up goals for reducing the effects of the greenhouse effect. The state of Iowa cannot find itself lagging behind the rest of the country on this important issue, and the United States cannot find itself inadequately performing compared to the other developed nations around the world. It would be immoral for a country of such wealth to be so apathetic.
Write the Tiger Hi-Line
The Tiger Hi-Line is a weekly publication of the journalism classes of Cedar Falls High School, 1015 Division St., Cedar Falls, Iowa 50613. Each edition is published on Wednesdays during the school year in The Insider and Waterloo/Cedar Falls Courier, 501 Commercial St., Waterloo, Iowa 50701. Columns and letters do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the HiLine or Cedar Falls Schools. The Hi-Line editorial staff view is presented weekly in the editorial labeled as Our View. Reader opinions on any topic are welcome and should be sent to the Tiger Hi-Line staff or delivered to room 208. All letters must be signed. Letters must be submitted by 3 p.m. on Thursday for publication the following Wednesday. Letters may not exceed 300 words and may be edited to meet space limitations. Include address and phone number for verification.
Editorial Staff Editors-in-Chief-Sheila Moussavi & Kirstin Riggs News Editors-Kelsey Ihde & Audrey Kittrell Opinion Editors-Andrea Huber, Robb Klassen & Willa Simmet Sports Editors-Josh Betts & Katy Schult Feature Editors-Briana McGeough On-Line Editors-David Jacobson & Olivia Schares
Equal rights for all:
Bill will ensure fairness for GLBT community When most Iowa citizens apply for a job, rent an apartment or eat at a local restaurant, they are not concerned about discrimination. They are allowed this freedom from concern because of the Iowa Civil Rights Act, which prohibits discrimination based on race, creed, color, sex, national origin, religion, Rights Act is that it ancestry or disability. Kellie Peterson unnecessarily classifies a Unfortunately, sexual Staff Writer group of people, or that orientation and gender it would entitle them to identity are not included, so Iowa’s Gay Lesbian Bisexual “special” rights. “I believe in equal rights—and Transgender (GLBT) citizens are denied the basic right of protection from equal rights are not special rights— and this is just one more area where discrimination. That soon may change, thanks to the principle is failing to be upheld,” Senate File 427, a bill that would add senior GSA member Rachel Jensen sexual orientation and gender identity said. Protecting people because of their to Iowa’s Civil Rights Act. Senate File 427 would ensure protection sexual orientation or gender identity from discrimination in areas such isn’t any different than protecting them as employment, housing, education, because of their race, religion or any of credit and pubic accommodations and the other distinctions that are already services. The bill, introduced by Sen. protected from discrimination. And when has the right to be Mike Gronstal, was deferred March 21, but was again brought up for protected from discrimination because of who you are been a “special” right? consideration starting March 26. “I’m strongly in favor because given All are entitled to their own opinions that the current civil rights code in Iowa on homosexuality and transgender is already enumerated, adding sexual issues, but that doesn’t mean they orientation just makes the policy more can deny a certain group of people complete,” junior and GSA member protection under the law because of their personal opinions. Briana McGeough said. “This bill does not force anyone McGeough’s comment seems logical because all citizens should be to change his or her beliefs. It only protected equally, regardless of how requires one to not discriminate controversial their “lifestyle choices” against GLBT people in areas such as may be. It is the responsibility of Iowa’s work and housing,” Breddin said. Often the excuse is made that GLBT legislatures to carry out this protection in the form of laws such as Senate File people do not deserve the protections 427. This responsibility should be kept that bills like Senate File 427 would in mind before making a decision that ensure because they have chosen their will greatly impact the lives of Iowa’s lifestyle, but isn’t religion also a choice since individuals can choose to change GLBT citizens. “I think that there is a much better their religion if they wish? Regardless of any opposition that chance of it passing now than it has ever had. We have just seen the anti- adding sexual orientation and gender bullying legislation go through that identity to the Iowa Civil Rights included GLBT students and faculty. Act may face, supporters are still This gives me hope that more and more optimistic about the benefits the bill people are coming to terms with the fact would have, including benefits to the that we are a nation that prides itself on state as a whole. “When people have their rights, its liberty and not on discrimination,” CFHS world language teacher and GSA things can only go up,” junior GSA member Michelle Bamber said. faculty adviser Melissa Breddin said. For example, Iowa prides itself Although the bill has a chance of on being a welcoming and safe place being approved, it still has its opposition. One of the most common points that is for all people, but when the state made against adding sexual orientation legislature and citizens do not support and gender identity to the Iowa Civil a bill to protect Iowa citizens, they are
“This bill does not force anyone to change his or her beliefs. It only requires one to not discriminate against GLBT people in areas such as work and housing.” —Melissa Breddin CFHS GSA Adviser
sending a contradictory message. “I feel that laws reflect the attitudes of the people; the more fair and open the laws are, the more fair and open the people are,” McGeough said. Not only would including sexual orientation and gender identity prove that Iowa is an open and welcoming place, it would show how progressive the state is. “It’s nice to see something actually being done to benefit Iowa’s citizens and make progress,” senior GSA member Thea Moe said. The impact this bill would have on the GLBT people in Iowa is indisputably the greatest benefit. They would be free from all forms of discrimination while at work and in public, when buying or renting a home, applying for a credit card and in countless other situations. “I think any man who has been evicted from his apartment for bringing his boyfriend home with him or any woman that got fired for openly declaring her partnership with another woman would tell you that this is a major significance,” Jensen said. The significance of this bill is something in which supporters are willing to fight. Many have taken active parts in attempting to influence their legislators, like Bamber, Jensen and McGeough chose to do when they lobbied for the bill over spring break. “I chose to lobby because right now I’m too young to vote, so this is one of the few ways to have a voice in government policy,” McGeough said. I hope the legislators will make the right choice and approve this bill, but if they don’t, Bamber, Breddin, Jensen, McGeough and Moe all agreed that it would not put an end to their actions; they would keep going until their goal is reached. “If it fails, we just need to keep trying and keep educating. GLBT people are not going to disappear. This fight will go on until all people in this country are respected and protected,” Breddin said.
Tiger
HI-LINE The
SPORTS
Competitive cheerleaders react to statistics showing high levels of risk of injury for their sport nationwide Honor Heindl Staff Writer
For many years, from the junior high to professional levels, cheerleaders have been spotted loyally encouraging their teams in various athletics. Cheers, routines and stunts are performed for the fans and teams. The crowds enjoy it but rarely stop to think about what dangers these girls are risking just to entertain the audience. Cheer squads may have a higher risk level of getting injured than any other female athlete nationwide according to the National Center for Catastrophic Sports Injury Research. “We have three-hour practices, sometimes more if it’s close to a competition. There’s so much conditioning and practice that needs to go into making your team good. It’s tough because there’s a lot expected out of you,” sophomore Eleanor Poe said. Poe, along with CFHS sophomores Hillary Gallagher, Natalie Severson and Laura Zeman, are in a competi-
tion squad outside of Cedar Falls High School called Chips. Competition squads are often expected to engineer the most challenging tricks. Cheerleaders with a competitive edge such as the CFHS competition squad don’t always get the credit they deserve for the effort and acrobatic maneuvers they perform. Although it’s still q u i t e g l a m o rous, at competitions all over the country, you’ll find ice packs, taped ankles and wrists and other various accessories just as often as you’ll find make-up. The airborne cheerleader, known as the flier, can be tossed some 20 feet above the ground during some stunts, and it’s not a guarantee these girls will make it safely down.
“People get hurt all the time, usually just getting elbowed or kicked in the face with stunts, but people also have gotten hurt from tumbling like sprained wrists and ankles,” Poe said. “You train and condition incredibly hard. Practices are consisted of you lifting people in the air, jumping a ton and gymnastics. Putting it all togethe r into a rou—Eleanor Poe tine Sophomore cheerleader is so much
“It reminds me of this quote that’s on T-shirts. ‘Athletes lift weights, cheerleaders lift athletes.’”
work.” According to the National Center for Catastrophic Sports Injury Research, of 104 female injuries in high school or college from 1982 to 2005 that consisted of head and spinal trauma that occasionally led to death, over half were due to cheerleading.
Today’s cheerleaders are turning into daredevils. “It could happen so easily and so fast. You make one wrong move, and you could have a broken arm. Stunting is where people get hurt the most. From people landing on top of you, to being the one landing on someone; they both really hurt. If you’re not careful, and aren’t familiar with the things you are doing, it’s pretty scary,” sophomore Ashley Neelans said. “When we went to State, I got a concussion after someone’s knee hit me in the side of my head (right where my temple is). I was instantly throwing up and did three times. When we got home, I went to the doctor, and he said I had surely gotten a concussion. He did a test to see if my brain was damaged at all; luckily the tests came back negative.” In 2002, there were 22,900 cheerleading-related injuries filling up emergency rooms. The Consumer Product Safety Commission did some research and found there were nearly
six times as many visits to the emergency room for cheerleaders in 2004 than in 1980. Although coaches and cheerleaders are all aware of possible consequences, they tough it up and give it all they’ve got. “My favorite part about cheerleading would have to be competing. I love performing in front of huge crowds and just being in all the lights,” Neelans said. Despite the physical demands of today’s cheerleading routines, the age old question still lingers in many minds: Is cheerleading really a sport? Ask any of these competition cheerleaders or those who have watched it and the answer will be the same every time. “I don’t think just standing on the sidelines and cheering for a team is necessarily a sport, but I do think competition cheerleading is. In competition cheerleading, we compete for a trophy, just like any other sport. This is a tough subject to get into with a cheerleader, and if you disagree with it, I suggest you just don’t even say anything,” Neelans jokes. “It reminds me of this quote that’s on T-shirts,” Poe said. “‘Athletes lift weights, cheerleaders lift athletes’.”
Intramural program increases students’ ‘active’ involvement Katy Schult Sports Editor
Many students in the high school are competing in more unconventional sports this year, the first year of the implementation of the Cedar Falls intramural sports program. Unlike previous years, this year’s intramural program is less like a PE open gym and more like the college intramural program. PE department chair Jamie Smith heads the intramural program to offer students another chance to get out and participate in physical activity. “Our goal is to promote physical activity and spark interest in physical activity through this program,” Smith said. Some of the sports offered this year in the intramural program were badminton, dodge ball, volleyball and now Ultimate Frisbee.
Many students have been interested in participating this year. There were eight teams for badminton, six teams for dodge ball, four teams for volleyball and at least six teams for Ultimate Frisbee. “We have a lot of our students that are in athletics participate and a lot that are not in athletics. Honestly, the most involved are those who used to participate in organized school athletics who have quit sometime along the way for various reasons,” Smith said. There are many benefits for students to be involved with the intramural program. Some include the physical benefits, such as burning calories, exercising, further practicing of skills and competition. Some of the social benefits include practicing good sportsmanship, Character Counts, leadership, teamwork and cooperation. Even the staff can be involved in the
intramural program. This year there was one team for badminton and one staff dodge ball team. “If our staff is conscious of its health, our students will become more conscious of their health. Plus, anytime our staff is supportive of our students in any way, student involvement and achievement increase,” Smith said. The Ultimate Frisbee intramural is in action right now. The competition dates include April 24 and 30 and May 7, 14 and 21. If interested in being involved, go to the PE webpage and print off an Ultimate Frisbee intramural registration and have it in to Smith by April 18.
Allison Bernard Photo Getting ready for upcoming intramural competition are some CFHS students. Ultimate Frisbee is one of the most popular events in the PE classes, and has now been introduced into Cedar Falls’ new, more collegelike intramural program that has been implemented this year to get more students engaged in physical activity out of the school day. Competition for this intramural sport begins April 24 at 6 p.m.
Tiger
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FEATURE
Environment 101:
Quantifying the Green Life:
A key to understanding carbon footprint
The Green
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Life REP
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While striving to live green is important, efforts to live green don’t really hit home unless you can see a tangible change. This is where carbon footprints come in. A carbon footprint is measured in tons of carbon emitted per year. The Internet and other sources offer many different versions of calculators that allow you to collect information such as miles driven and miles per gallon, miles flown per year, kilowatts of electricity used, how much gas or propane your household uses and how much garbage you put out on the curb each week. These sources then convert these amounts into tons or pounds of carbon emitted per year. The average U.S. footprint for a family of four is a bout 84,000 pounds of carbon emissions per year. According to the Kyoto Protocal, a treaty signed and ratified by over 150 countries (except the United States and Australia) to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, a family of four should be emitting only 44,000 pounds of carbon per year. A group of three independent ecology study students, including Ashley Vonderhaar, Nick Patton and I gave an assignment to Deb Paulsen’s ecology class. Over spring break, the students were assigned to find the aforementioned information about their automobiles, flights, electricity, gas and garbage, to be calculated individually on carbon calculators when they returned.
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Online Editor
Willa Simmet They were given summary Opinion Editor sheets comparing their families’ footprints to the Kyoto allowance Living green is recycling a can, switchand an average U.S. footprint ing to compact fluorescent light bulbs and for their number of family turning off the light. members. They also included “Living green means living sustainpie charts which broke down the ably,” said Bill Stigliani, director of the different contributing factors to University of Northern Iowa’s Center their carbon footprints so that for Energy and Environmental Education they could see their “areas of (CEEE). “It means not taking away from weakness.” future generations.” To live green means acknowledging The class looked at a list of 25 that humans are using up irreplaceable things to do under $25 to reduce natural resources at an alarming rate their carbon footprints. These and wanting to do something included the amount of about it. carbon per year that It means to stop debatwould be reduced ing whether this climate by this action. change is linked to Some of human activity and the choices instead to start deincluded ciding what to do exchanging about it. “It has been o l d proven that hulightbulbs mans have become a n d Part 1 of a geological force appliances a 2-part on the planet,” Stiwith Energy gliani said. “Our acseries Star-labeled tions are changing the light bulbs weather and climate on and appliances, earth. Today’s high school washing laundry students are the first generawith cold or warm tion in human history to feel the instead of hot water, and brunt of all that.” Stigliani said he believes that our counturning down the thermostat try needs a national commitment to solve and air conditioning by a few this problem, similar to the commitment degrees. made in the 1960’s when President John The students composed plans F. Kennedy said that our country would for their families including some put a man on the moon by the end of the of these 25 options. decade. This activity allowed the “If we put all of our forces into it, students to quantify their impact then we can do it,” Stigliani said. “Global on the environment and the warming is more dangerous than terrorchanges that they can make. The ism. In the last budget we spent $500 bilclass plans to recalculate their lion on defense and only $30 billion was devoted to environmental funding. Our households’ carbon footprints country’s priority lies in building weapons in a month to see how well they and attacking countries for so called secufollowed through with their rity. They should broaden the idea of seplans.
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Olivia Schares
CF residents commit to Living Green curity to include environmental concerns and use the money and technology to fight global climate change.” Stigliani said he believes that everyone has to put forth an individual effort. “Mother Theresa said to do ‘little things with a lot of love,’ and I think that’s the right approach, especially for environmental problems,” Stigliani said. Stigliani and his family recently moved out of their “big, clunky, old house” and into a much smaller one. They installed geothermal heating in the house and are now emitting half as much carbon dioxide as they did when they lived in their old house. Geothermal heating is one of the most efficient ways to heat a building because it uses natural heat stored in the earth. Many people want to know what they can do. According to Stigliani, people should start with energy conservation in their homes. Larry and Diane Grimstad built their home six years ago with the environment in mind. Their beautiful home sits in a valley near Decorah surrounded by trees and wildlife. In defining living green, Larry said, “Green is everything around us. Green means building with materials that are easily recycled.” David and Perry-O Sliwa live completely off the electrical grid north of Decorah, generating all their electricity through wind and solar power. After thinking for a moment, Perry-O defines living green as, “living in tune with the sun and the wind and the animals that are so small that we can’t even see them, in a way that honors Earth and Earth’s resources.” Carol and Jack Yates of Cedar Falls built and designed their home several years ago with the Earth in mind. Their home, situated near Holmes Junior High, is passive solar. The plentiful amount of windows on the south of the house let the sunlight inside. The family also utilizes solar panels. As Carol looks outside the huge south facing windows, her husband is working on the prairie. She said, “To live to green
means to not use any more resources than we need to. I want to be as easy on the land as possible because we don’t have another planet.” Sitgliani said living green also means getting involved in changing policies at the state, federal and international level. Big changes are needed. He said a transformation must be as dramatic as the one Scrooge made in A Christmas Carol. “I tell my students that in their lifetime the earth will change a lot.,” Stigliani said, “While we won’t destroy the earth, we could change it so it is not so conducive to our well-being. Global warming is real. Scientific study after scientific study proves that, but we haven’t gotten to the stage where industry and people really get it. If we put all of our energies to solving the problem there is no doubt in my mind we could do it in 30 years, but there is no political will right now.” Stigliani said there are incredible solutions in the book, Natural Capitalism. Authors Paul Hawken and Amory and Hunter Lovins said that first there must be radical improvements in energy efficiency, cutting back by a third. In addition, people must mimic nature instead of fighting against it. Stigliani said Echo Industrial Park in Denmark uses the waste from one industry as the feedstock for another. Also, mass production must be replaced with mass service, and society must invest in natural systems. Stigliani is impressed with Roy Anderson and his Atlanta Interface Carpet Company. The company provides carpet to office buildings. By servicing the carpeting, making it modular, only replacing worn parts of rugs and recycling what they didn’t use, Anderson reduced his mass flow by 97 percent. He tripled his profits and doubled his work force in five years. “There are so many things we could do to restructure our economy to be much more friendly to the earth,” Stigliani said. “We just have to do it.” Later in this series we will feature families who are living sustainably and offer suggestions for ways high school students can live green lives.