Values education and environment

There is a plethora of after school, in-school educational programmes. There is coding, robotics, brain development games all touted to boost children’s cognition, creativity, and critical thinking. But I believe some important life-skills are being left out completely. One such is value education.

Most efforts of value education end up as cliches in the form of “moral lessons” or religious teachings or “moral of the story” to “teach” children values, yet none of it leads to applying the learning of values to actions. If they had, we would see less of the corruption, apathy, and sheer negligence in addressing so many social, economic, political, and environmental concerns that we see around us.

Despite being important, this complex subject barely receives much importance or attention in education curricula. This could be because teaching values is complex. It does not have “tangible” material benefits and as a learning outcome it is difficult to measure as an assessment, it needs to be seen in everyday actions.

This is first in a series of articles I plan to write on value education. In this piece, I am focussing on value education from the perspective of environmental concerns.

This is an appeal to focus on value education for children and adults alike, one that can inspire us all to take a moral stand. Adopt a pledge to commit to Corrective Climate Change actions.

But before we go there, here is a short argument for value education in the current educational discourse.

The first complexity in teaching values is to decide what values and whose values? Notions of right and wrong are subjective and often influenced by culture, politics, economics, and circumstances. This philosophical debate in the realm of environment begins with the notion of anthropocentrism.

I will use the word “Earthlings” to include all sentient beings that inhabit the earth, homo sapiens being one of them.

The word Earthlings is to challenge notions of anthropocentrism and it makes for an interesting debate on values education and environment.

As the most powerful earthling, one that is responsible for the mess we have created, homo sapiens must naturally do something to correct the condition we are in.

Earth is the only planet we know. We spend trillions in exploring the outer space, but what about earth? The sheer magic of nature, the intricate balance, life nurturing rains and the seasonal cycles…oh but the alarm bells are ringing. ?Everywhere across the globe, unpredictable seasonal patterns, changes in agricultural output, behaviour changes in animals.

What more are we waiting for to make us sit up and take note??So many of us who vouch for our love for nature, post breathtaking views of sunsets, birds, flowers, and trees, but do we really love nature? Do we stop to listen to what the nature is saying to us? ?

The first step begins with education. Answering a question about our relationship with nature, J Krishnamurthy said, “Most of us are not aware of that relationship. We never look at a tree, or if we do, it is with a view of using that tree – either to sit in its shade, or cut it down for lumber. In other words, we look at trees with utilitarian purpose; we never look at a tree without projecting ourselves and utilizing it for our own convenience. We treat the earth and its products the same way. There is no love of the earth, only usage of the earth. If one really loved the earth, there would be frugality in using the things of the earth.”

How ready are we to invest in ‘Corrective Climate Change’ (CCC) action?

This is where I advocate for value education from the environment point of view.

It is time schools, universities, workplaces, homes everywhere, each one of us take up a pledge to initiate Corrective Climate Change Action. Assuming it is not already too late to reverse the damage, we need to educate ourselves about the toxic actions that have led to climate change.

For those who want to pledge their commitment to CCCA, there are simple actions that will get you started. ?Incorporate discussions in homes, at workplaces, in classrooms. Discuss across all and any subject that interests you or is part of your life: science, mathematics, geography, social sciences, civics, medicine, engineering, architecture etc. Which actions in these fields are causing climate change. What can be an alternative way of being and doing?

The following are also some ways we as adults can self-educate and take a crash course on taking a moral stand. The same can be discussed in educational spaces or work spaces:

·??????Understand what is carbon foot print and why it matters.

·??????Know how to calculate your individual carbon footprint, your workplace carbon footprint

·??????Be conscious of how your next purchase impacts the climate- your food, your consumable goods, your travel choices, your clothes

·??????Understand all aspects of science by knowing how new science innovations have historically had a sustained impact on the planet, from mining, electricity, using plastics and chemicals

·??????Understand more about animals and the impact of environment on their habitats in forests, grasslands, rivers, and oceans

·??????See the beauty of mathematics in the nature around you, in the flower and leaf patterns and so much more. Appreciate nature, spend time in the wilderness, listen to her.

·??????Understand geography, know more about how climate change is shifting the earth’s axis and all other aspects of climate change

·??????Critically understand environmental laws and policies on man human conflict and conservation efforts

The list is long, but you get the drift, I am sure. Do something, do your tiny bit.