Hostname: page-component-848d4c4894-8kt4b Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-07-04T04:25:26.475Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The State of Environmental Education in the Australian School Curriculum

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 June 2015

Debbie Heck
Debbie Heck*
Affiliation:
Griffith University
*
†Faculty of Environmental Sciences, Griffith University, Nathan, Queensland 4111, Australia. Email: d.heck@griffith.edu.au
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

The first review of environmental education in Australia was undertaken by Linke (1980) in 1973/4. The Curriculum Corporation on behalf of the Government Department of the Environment and Heritage undertook a second national review in 2002. The purpose of the review was to provide evidence for the development of future national initiatives in environmental education and as advice for environmental education practioners. Curriculum documents were reviewed to identify the existence of 147 indicators of environmental education within outcomes and objectives of curriculum documents in the compulsory years of schooling through to senior secondary. The similarities between the two reviews are evident in the identification of Science and Social Science in the compulsory years of schooling as having. direct references to environmental education. Geography at the senior secondary level also had significant explicit reference to environmental education. However, there were differences. The 2003 review identified environmental studies as a new secondary level subject that has environmental education objectives. It also identified a broader range of learning areas including Arts, Health and Physical Education, English and Technology which provided opportunities for the development of environmental education.

Type
Reports
Information
Australian Journal of Environmental Education , Volume 19 , 2003 , pp. 115 - 124
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2003

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Australian Education Council (1990). The Hobart Declaration common and agreed goals for schooling in Australia. Hobart, Australian Education Council.Google Scholar
Dawkins, J. (1988). Strengthening Australia's schools: A consideration of the focus and content of schooling. Canberra, AGPS.Google Scholar
Department of Environment and Heritage (1999). Today shapes tomorrow: Environmental education for a sustainable future. Canberra, Environment Australia.Google Scholar
Department of the Environment and Heritage (2000). Environmental education for a sustainable future: National action plan. Canberra, Environment Australia, Department of Environment and Heritage.Google Scholar
Department of the Parliamentary Library (2001). Historical parliamentary information: Ministries, parliamentary library web manager. Retrieved October 21, 2003, from http://www.aph.gov.au/library/parl/hist/minitries.htm Google Scholar
Dudley, J., & Vidovich, L. (1995). The politics of education: Commonwealth school policy 1973-1995. Melbourne, Australian Council for Educational Research.Google Scholar
Fien, J., & Gough, A. (1996). Environmental education. In Gilbert, R. (Ed.), Studying society and environment: A guide for teachers (pp. 200–216). South Melbourne, Macmillan Education Australia.Google Scholar
Gayford, C., & Dillon, P. (1995). Policy and practice of environment education in England: A dilemma for teachers. Environmental Education Research, 2(2), pp. 173–184.Google Scholar
Gough, A. (1997). Education and the environment: Policy, trends and the problems of marginalisations. Melbourne, The Australian Council for Educational Research.Google Scholar
Grace, M., & Sharp, J. (2000). Exploring the actual and potential rhetoric-reality gaps in environmental education and their implications for pre-service teacher training. Environmental Education Research, 6(4), 313–330.Google Scholar
Greenhall, A. (1987). A political history of environmental education in Australia: Snakes and ladders. In Robotom, I. (Ed.), Environmental education: practice and possibility (pp. 3–21). Geelong, Deakin University Press.Google Scholar
Greenhall Gough, A. (1990). Environmental education. In McRae, K. (Ed.), Outdoor and environmental education: Diverse purpose and practices (pp. 41–53). Melbourne, Macmillan.Google Scholar
Linke, R. (1980). Environmental education in Australia. Sydney, Allen & Unwin.Google Scholar
Lucas, A.M. (1979). Environment and education: conceptual issues in environmental education. Melbourne: Australia International Press and Publications Pty Ltd.Google Scholar
NAAEE (1996). Environmental education materials: Guidelines for excellence. Troy, Ohio, North American Association for Environmental Education.Google Scholar
Robertson, C., & Krugly-Smolska, E. (1997). Gaps between advocated practices and teaching realities in environmental education. Environmental Education Research, 3(3), 311–326.Google Scholar
Sharpley, B. (2003a). Environmental education indicators. Retrieved August 20, 2003, from http://www.erin.gov.au/education/nap/council/indicators.html. Curriculum Corporation for Environment Australia.Google Scholar
Sharpley, B. (2003b). Environmental education review - Formal education sector (schools). Retrieved August 20, 2003, from http://www.erin.gov.au/education/nap/council/summary-1.html. Curriculum Corporation for Environment Australia.Google Scholar
Spork, H. (1992). Environmental education: A mismatch between theory and practice. Australian Journal of Environmental Education, 8, 147–166.Google Scholar
UNCED (1992). Earth Summit '92. London, The Regency Press Corporation.Google Scholar
UNESCO-UNEP (1978). The Tbilisi Declaration. Connect, III(1), 1–9.Google Scholar
Yencken, D., Fien, J., & Sykes, H. (2000). Environment, education and society in the Asia Pacific: Local traditions and global discourses. London, Routledge.Google Scholar