Some months ago the editors of ELR asked me to write an essay on the status of environmental law in the law schools. I considered simply describing the progress of my own life and not-so-hard times as a teacher since 1966, when I first put together a course called "Conservation and the Law" at the University of Michigan. I soon decided that a report from the front lines would be more suitable.

I wrote to every listed teacher of environmental law. Seeking a reflective rather than a statistical response, I posed the following question: Since our students will not only be the practicing lawyers of 1990, but will be in their professional maturity in 2020, what is it you want them to take away from your courses?