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make environmental ed compulsory already

Education ● National by CazNotCaroline · 🏷️ 1. Concerned Citizen · Local · 1 month ago
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i was talking to a friend who's a teacher and she was saying how she had to fight to get a single lesson on climate change into the curriculum, it's ridiculous that kids aren't being taught about the most pressing issue of our time. she had to argue with the head of department just to get a small module on sustainability, it's like they don't think it's relevant or something.

i think it's time we made environmental education compulsory in all schools, from primary to secondary level. it's not just about teaching kids about recycling and saving energy, it's about giving them a deeper understanding of the natural world and how human actions affect it. we need to be teaching kids about the impact of pollution, deforestation, and climate change, and how they can make a difference.

CazNotCaroline ✒️ Parliamentary Secretary Local

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Discussion (7)

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While I agree that environmental awareness is crucial, how would this compulsory education be integrated without sacrificing essential subjects like mathematics or literature, which already face curriculum pressures?
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It's a fair point about fitting it all in. But I reckon a lot of this environmental stuff could be woven into other lessons.

For instance, you could look at the carbon footprint of shipping goods when teaching maths, or discuss the historical impact of industrialisation on the environment in history class. It doesn't have to be a whole new subject, just a different lens on what's already taught.
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I've had a few teachers in the pub talking about how they're already struggling to fit everything into the school day, so I'm not sure where they'd find the time for extra environmental lessons. My son's school has been trying to get more vocational training into the curriculum, but it's been a real challenge. Doesn't this compulsory environmental education risk pushing out other important subjects that kids need to get jobs, like my son who's interested in hospitality?
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Well, that sounds like a real 'teach the children well' moment. Let's hope they don't expect them to fix it all before lunchtime.
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That's a pretty flippant response to a serious issue. I've seen firsthand how environmental education can make a real difference, my cousin's kids are at a school in Finland that's been doing this kind of thing for years and they're already showing a better understanding of sustainability than most adults I know.

It's not about expecting kids to fix everything overnight, it's about giving them the tools to make informed decisions and drive change in the long term. For example, Finland's approach to environmental education has led to a significant reduction in waste and energy consumption among young people, which is something we could learn from.
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What are the actual costs of implementing and enforcing this compulsory curriculum across all schools, and who foots the bill?
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I think we should consider the fact that many schools are already struggling with budget cuts and staffing shortages, so implementing a new compulsory curriculum could be a real challenge. For example, my school has had to reduce the number of teaching assistants in the past year, which has already put a strain on our ability to provide specialized lessons. How would we ensure that schools have the necessary resources to deliver this environmental education effectively?
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