Environmental Literacy And Sustainability Values

Mainstream scientists have grave concerns regarding unsustainable lifestyles in a world with finite resources. The lack of environmental literacy, sustainability values, connectedness to nature and environmental education as a core subject needs to be addressed through environmental education. In a standards-driven climate, standards are needed to open the gate for inclusion of environmental education in school curricula. This mixed-methods content analysis examines and compares five U. S. state environmental education standards, national environmental education guidelines and the Earth Charter for inclusion of sustainability values. The Earth Charter states the international consensus principles of sustainability values. Data were generated through traditional quantitative coding, computer text analysis and the creation of document profiles through qualitative methods. Triangulation of the findings from these three methods showed that state standards and national guidelines adequately address ecological integrity principles, but not environmental justice principles associated with flourishing, sustainable communities.

Autorentext

Julie Singleton, PhD in Curriculum and Instruction focusing on science education at Texas A&M University. Areas of study: environmental literacy, outdoor education and transformational learning experiences. Currently an assistant professor at Texas A&M, Department of Teaching, Learning and Culture.