[Serenity]

Originally Posted by angelicwriter

Evolution, politics, and religion have been known to be prominent in most schools. Should environmental awareness education become part of the school curriculum?

I think it should indeed! It would be more useful than woodwork, that's for sure. We need to inform upcoming generations to have any hope for the future of protecting what we have.

[Green-Moo]

Originally Posted by Kitten

I definitely think it should be. I think it would be more beneficial on the level of personal improvement (like encouraging recycling) than it would be on the political level, though.

I don't entirely agree Kitten. People need to be informed to be able to make political decisions. If people were educated about environmental matters I bet you'd see more people pushing for environmental policies.

[mollyL]

I think that's a good thing, Green. Somehow there has to be more environmental consciousness, so we can make the drastic decisions we need to make. Adults who were taught as school kids might be the numbers we need in order to get things done.

[RFL1986]

Education really is the cornerstone toward a better future. I think my generation (20 somethings) are usually pretty aware of issues because we were perhaps the first generation to really be forced to understand environmental issues as part of our core curriculum.

[Serenity]

Originally Posted by RFL1986

Education really is the cornerstone toward a better future. I think my generation (20 somethings) are usually pretty aware of issues because we were perhaps the first generation to really be forced to understand environmental issues as part of our core curriculum.

Originally Posted by Green-Moo

People need to be informed to be able to make political decisions. If people were educated about environmental matters I bet you'd see more people pushing for environmental policies.

Therein lies the key, and RFL just proved the point of what Green-Moo said. My generation (I'm in my forties) certainly never knew much about environmental issues, and if you did you were considered a bit of a hippy. It amazes me how many people of my age (and I don't think I'm that old!) have absolutely no interest in the damage being done to our planet nor taking steps to make a difference by recycling etc.

Knowledge is power and change only occurs when people are presented with the opportunity to think for themselves about issues. However if no-one ever broaches the subject with them or brings it to their attention in some way, they remain in the dark unless they actively seek it out on their own. Schools are the perfect place to do that and the younger they start teaching it to them, the better.