SHOULD ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES BE A REQUIRED COURSE FOR STUDENTS K-12?
INTRODUCTION
Careers surrounding the environment's well-being have increased significantly over the years and are continuing to grow. “Employment of environmental science and protection technicians is projected to grow 6 percent from 2022 to 2032, faster than the average for all occupations” (U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2023). Along with the rise of job opportunities involving the environment, it is not surprising that there is an increase in students attending universities to learn more about resource conservation, environmental engineering, and philosophical approaches to environmental studies.
Typically, environmental studies is not offered until senior year, if even at all; math, science, language arts, and social studies are the four core subjects that many American students are familiar with. For many elementary school students, the day consists of an hour or so of math class, an hour of English language arts, the same for science and social studies, lunch break and recess, and maybe music, gym, or art class. In many secondary schools, there are more class options to fulfill more niche interests, but they still branch from the four required core subjects: math, science, language arts, and social studies.
If a student decides to pursue higher education, there are endless opportunities to study whatever piques interest, and in recent years, environmental studies programs have been reaching capacity as the subject has gained tremendous popularity (Adkins, 2020). What has caused a rise of interest in environmental science and interdisciplinary studies? R.J. Woodring, University of Indiana Bloomington Associate Dean of Educational Programs says, “[The students are] just pretty aware of what’s going on around them…They want to make sure they have clean air, clean water, nice parks and natural resources for them and their children” (Adkins, 2020). As younger generations are starting to see the severity of our Earth's current state, more and more people are wanting to learn about, reconnect to, and help the natural environment. And what better way to build a sustainable future than helping build it yourself?
Due to the increased interest in environmental studies at universities and heightened concerns for our planet, it makes one wonder, should environmental studies be a core class in primary and secondary schools?
WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION
HISTORY
Since the creation of America's first school, students have been allowed time to rest their minds between classes. Whether the break is only ten minutes or a few hours, instructors have encouraged young learners to spend this break outside.
America's first school, Boston Latin School which was founded in 1635, originally gave their students a two hour break between lessons, and it was not unusual for the students to spend the time swimming in the bay or sledding during the winter (Boston Latin School, 2024). These recesses have gotten shorter over the centuries but still, for many children, this break taken outside is the best part of their day.
IMPORTANCE
Children's access to the natural environment has been considered beneficial for their mental and physical well-being (Tillman et al., 2018); a child's connection to the outdoors is just as important as the education they are receiving, there is knowledge gained from both environments. Given the amount of excitement that surrounds playing outside on a nice day, it could be safe to say that students might take interest in learning about all that nature has to offer and how to preserve it.
Education is meant to be progressive and develop over time, for example students are not being taught the same material that their grandparents were taught. With increasing problems related to our environment, why wouldn’t the curriculum change to accommodate the situations that those children might face in the future? Many students are left questioning the importance of their assigned learning materials in subjects like math or history (Hough 2015). While environmental studies does deal with both of those subjects and more, this highly interdisciplinary subject helps make relations between core subjects and the environment that they live in.
CONTENT
Environmental studies (ENS) focuses on the relationship between humans and the natural environment. ENS involves the physical sciences, history, environmental justice and law, economics, and humanities. With the subject being so diverse, it could be made entertaining for younger audiences and a good opportunity to apply knowledge and get hands-on experience for older students
In the Journal of Cleaner Production, authors say, “Environmental education has historically been an effective mechanism to fight against environmental degradation through the change of knowledge, concerns and behaviours of individuals” (Inés Suárez-Perales a et al., 2021).
RESEARCH QUESTIONS
Should environmental studies be a core class in primary and secondary schools? With more and more university students becoming interested in ENS, would students in grades K-12 also be interested in ENS?
RESEARCH OBJECTIVES
Observing how schools incorporate environmental studies into the current American curriculum. Observing student grades and how they are impacted by this new curriculum.
METHODS
By collecting survey answers from high school students, university students, teachers, parents, and even ENS professionals, we will get a better idea if environmental studies should be a required course for students K-12, or if it does not have a place in the current curriculum.
JUSTIFICATION
Asking the opinions of students K-12, university students, educators, and professionals in ENS or other areas of expertise on how they feel about environmental studies gives the opinion of a diverse group of people. Ideally at least 20 people from each group would answer the survey questions, so around 80-100 total participants.
