A teacher’s role in strengthening environmental education

ACCORDING to Bertos ( 2014), environmenta l education refers to organized efforts to teach about how natural environments function and, particularly, how human beings can manage their behavior and ecosystems in order to live sustainably.

Teachers are the key to the whole teaching- learning process in the lives of the students and we t ake a great role in strengthening Environmental Education. We need to redefine our role, teachers. Our role is not only transferring information but of being a facilitator, a leader and a resource person.

Some of the most important jobs that are to be done in our current situation are sustenance of environment, the building of a vigilant society, and promotion of strategies for sustainable development, maintenance of health-standards, and hygiene and sanitation. These jobs can be done by developing healthy personal and social attitudes in the students and in the community. And for this to be totally done, we teachers partake in its success.

As Bertos ( 2014) said “Environmental Education can be an effective instrument that can be used in the development of ci vi c consciousness and inculcation of positive attitudes among students towards the environment, its protection, preservation, and conservation.” These things are to be promoted in ways t hrough t he i nvolvement and participation of school, parents and the community. Secondary l evel or High School students need to “be introduced to the problems of environment where we live in, the social responsibility of the community in maintaining it, and making it healthy.” There is a necessity for this due to the fact that living conditions of people have become complex because of rapid technological advancements, urbanization, and population explosion.

Teachers are not only teachers but also a parent to students and our roles to environmental education are very important. We are the ones being consulted and involved in the curriculum transaction. It i s also our basic role to provide help and support to institutions in activities involving both teachers and students. Thus, i t can be concluded t hat the enhanced awareness of the students about their surroundings, their realization on the importance of projects and their efforts in promoting conservation all relies to the role of us, teachers.

As teachers, we can share knowledge and information, and promote participation of students in actions related to environmental improvements. We can also share basic resources including material and human resources. We also can l ead i n running campaigns including adoption of parks and playgrounds, cleaning ponds and lakes, and maintaining streets and our very own school. We can also extend support to nature clubs, fairs, and cultural and social activities. And last but not the least, we, teachers can create awareness for the protection of environment in general and its different components as per need. ( Paid article)