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toxic chemicals in a river or a car driver dumps the contents of his ashtray in city street, severe
punishment would teach a lesson.
However, punishment is only a
short-term measure and only treats the symptoms. We need a way to show
people how environmental damage is, in effect, damaging them and their
families – even their great grand children. How do you get this
through to 10 and 15 years-olds?
Environmental education has
potential as a more permanent solution. However, there is a problem
with much of the environmental education I have read about. It seems
to focus on the technical such as sources of carbon and chemical
reactions that cause global warming. Much environmental education
focuses on how many tonnes of litter are dropped and what type it is
and the biological effect it has on animals. There is also
considerable study of the amounts and types of chemical pollutants in
the air and in rivers and seas and how these pollutants circulate and
the discomfort and diseases they cause.
Honestly, what effect will all
this technical knowledge have on the behaviour of those who pollute
and litter and destroy? I would claim very little. All this research
is great and produces facts that can back up arguments but facts don’t
change behaviours only emotions do that. For clarity’s sake, the
fact-finding and their transmission to others should be called
environmental studies not environmental education.
Consequently, environmental
education will only be effective if we get people to reflect on the
real emotional and personal cost to them and others. You might hear
the comment “Okay, I know all the elephants in Africa will be extinct
by the year 2020 but so what – the dinosaurs are extinct with no
negative effect on us”. How do you overcome that view?
Using a values education approach
to environmental education requires that 80% of the time is spent discussing in
detail in open, direct and honest dialogue what the consequences are
for our children and grand children and us now. It has to be made
personal – your life and your family. Environmental education has to
tap into people’s hearts and generate compassion, empathy and caring.
This will not be easy because
perhaps those who are inclined to pollute and litter have had little
experience of these values in their home life. In another article I’ll
give an example of how a values-based environmental education class
could be conducted.
Environmental education as values education is a field crying out for
more research. Dr Bill would be delighted to
advise
postgraduate students (with the agreement of their university or
college) interested in this fascinating field. Contact him on
bill@valueseducation.co.uk
Copyright © 2008 Values Education Ltd
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to editors. Feel free to use this article as long as the following
details are retained. “A values education article from CAVE
www.valueseducation.co.uk ”
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