Abstract
M.Phil. (Subject Didactics)
The urgency of the issues concerning man's relationship to the natural environment is confirmed by the large-scale publicity given these issues by the media. This has resulted in a fairly general public awareness of environmental issues, which is at present reflected by numerous efforts to further stimulate positive interests in conservation and the responsible use of natural resources. It is generally accepted that the next generation of decisionmakers should be more thoroughly equipped to face these environmental issues and problems, some of which threaten life's
very existence. Over the past 15 years, therefore, several organizations have accepted the responsibility of making schoolchildren much more aware of the environment and of encouraging in them a sense of· responsibility towards it. To date, however, efforts to bring this about have been made outside the formal education sector. In fact, there are indications that Environmental Education has had very little impact on our school programmes. It appears that particularly those school subjects which are supposed to introduce pupils to aspects of the natural environment, are still taught as if there were
nothing wrong with the environment and as if the environment were just another topic to be studied. Environmental issues are avoided in most current school syllabuses, designed as they are to prepare pupils academically for university or the labour market.
However, there are indications that, particularly as a result of increased public pressure, the formal education sector will eventually have to accept responsibility for assimilating the principles of Environmental Education into school curricula. The
White Paper on Environmental Education (April 1989) seems to support this. It is generally accepted· that Environmental. Education will not be regarded as a new school subject, but that it will re-emphasize classic educational principles aimed at
encouraging positive pupil attitudes towards the environment. These attitudes can be define by terms such as responsibility, concern, inclination towards conservation, environmental awareness and respect for creation.