Want to hear something crazy? Eight clams control a Polish city's water supply. You can read and watch the full story here, but for the rest of you, here is a summary:
In Poznań, Poland, a bio-monitoring system uses eight clams to safeguard the city's water supply. Sensors are attached to their shells, and the clams, connected to a computer network, control the water flow. When pollutants like heavy metals or pesticides are detected, the clams close their shells, automatically shutting off the water supply to prevent contamination. This natural early-warning system is used in over 50 locations across Poland and Russia. Each clam serves for three months before being returned to its natural habitat, ensuring it remains sensitive to changes in water quality.
And this got me thinking.
With all the technology in the world, clams still offer the best - and safest - solution to water quality. And I wonder if we, as educators, parents, and people, should be taking note.
Advanced technology is still being used to protect the town of Poznan, but it's not the focus. A natural living thing that knows and understands the immediate environment is still responsible for making decisions. Technology merely supports it.
The same should be said about how we parent, educate, and be. The focus is on the living things. Everything else is there for support.
That's what I've been thinking about this week.