Curriculum Development for Activism in Environmental Education.

Overview & Synopsis

This paper investigates the role of environmental education in promoting activism or social action on behalf of the environment. The connection between between environmental education and social studies in school curricula is weak. Fields within social studies such as civics, history, law-related education, government, and problems of democracy have great potential to enrich environmental education by exposing students to the ways and means by which problems are managed or resolved through political systems. Recent studies have revealed the ineffectiveness of existing environmental education as a stimulus for meaningful social action. School programs have emphasized environmental awareness but have not changed the behavior patterns that perpetuate ecological problems. Because most environmental problems originate from socioeconomic conditions, it is argued that effective environmental education requires a strong social problem-solving component. Some of the issues addressed in this paper include the lack of emphasis on urban minority environments, making environmental education a vehicle for social change, the need for values clarification to develop a personal environmental ethos, and student empowerment. Several programs are described that involve students in the community through environmental action. The role of technology in environmental education and activism is also discussed. Contains extensive references and notes. (PVD)