Interview with the Principal

1.Has the school incorporated the sustainable concept of “circular economy” in the architecture, facilities, space planning, etc?

Answer:Since the early days, the school has been creating a sustainable campus environment. After the implementation by several principals, the campus has become a greener, environmentally friendly, and energy-saving environment. The inspection on the campus environment showed that the planning and engineering construction are being implemented in terms of greening with trees, pavement paving, sunshine and rainfall, ditch flowing, supply of water and electricity. The currently completed construction: Addition of turf and climbing vines and regular weeding and pruning to keep the land ventilated; establishment of infiltration trenches and rainwater collection tanks, and building of an ecological pool for water retention and storage; renovation of classroom closed windows to improve ventilation and air flow in the building; replacement with energy-saving lamps and LED bulbs; use of water-saving equipment: use of water-saving faucets, two-stage water-saving toilets, as well as use of open pipes for water pipelines, which not only facilitates maintenance, but also assists in instant detection and handling of water leaks. Moreover, in order to comply with the solar photovoltaic policy, solar panels have been installed on the roof of the classroom, which can not only generate electricity but also fundamentally improve the problem of stuffy classrooms, providing a healthier, safer, environmentally friendly and energy-saving learning environment. 

3. How does the school combine external resources such as parents, communities, and environmental protection groups, to jointly promote school environmental education?

Answer:Our school attaches great importance to environmental education, organizes environmental education-related activities every academic year, and implement course activities related to environmental education issues in conjunction with resources such as the community, parents, and environmental protection groups. In terms of community and environmental group resources, the school cooperates with Tzu Chi Environmental Protection Education Center and Department of Environmental Protection, Taipei City Government to implement environmental protection resource recycling, campus propaganda and sharing, and environmental education-related promotion activities. Environmental education activities include: how to reduce waste, resource recycling and classification, understanding of energy saving and carbon reduction, mountain cleaning and community cleaning and other activities. Furthermore, our school cooperates with parents to organize an environmental protection volunteer team, which combines environmental education and learning activities with campus environmental protection work to connect the connotation of environmental education and environmental protection practices. Our students have gradually realized the importance of ecological environmental protection and are willing to implement environmental protection concepts and behaviors in their life.

5. In the future, how will the sustainable concept of “circular economy” be further planned and strengthened on campus and in courses, and activities, of the school?

Answer:Our school has always attached great importance to the sustainable concept of “circular economy.” In addition to offering relevant environmental protection courses and activities in the school, our school also offers off-campus teaching and on-site visit to environmental protection industry and environmental protection groups. Our school intends to implement environmental protection knowledge in daily life through visits in combination with the school’s environmental protection courses. In the future, our school will further strengthen cooperation with environmental protection groups and plan courses on the theme of “circular economy” where teachers from outside will teach students to create works by hand. For example, the discarded clothes or flags at home are recycled and reused. Through the creation of recycling, they are cut and sewn into clothing, accessories, environmental protection bags, etc. Such items are re-transformed and given new life to achieve the effect of “zero waste and reutilization” in circular economy.

References: Shihua ,Lian.Personal interview.November 30，2022.
Image Source:Photographed by the research team

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