学校教育としての環境教育をめぐる課題と展望

Abstract

Many articles and papers concerning environmental education as a part of school education for the past about 20 years were reviewed. The review extracted several issues about environmental education in schools, as follows: (1) Examination of the concept “environment” is insufficient. There is not a common understanding among environmental educators about the meaning of the concept. It is necessary for the concept “environment” to be discussed more thoroughly, and the effect that the concept gives to environmental education should be considered. (2) Environmental education dwelling on many environmental problems leaves learners pessimistic about the future. However, environmental education without teaching about environmental problems at all is insufficient. This type of environmental education effectively hides the crime of environmental disruption by the adult generation. (3) Environmental education tends to demand a change in today's lifestyles and values. Environmental education has therefore been regarded as dangerous. In environmental education, it is desirable to respect various values and to take positive neutral viewpoints. Secondly, unique examples of environmental education that have been suggested in the past are introduced and examined. Finally, the curriculum constitution of Japanese schools is examined. The relationship between the period of integrated study and environmental education was discussed. On the basis of these examinations, the author proposes that environmental education in schools be carried out as mainstream during the period of integrated study.