Cypriot primary school principals’ understanding of education for sustainable development key terms and their opinions about factors affecting its implementation

‘Transformative leaders for sustainable schools’, was a nationwide research project conducted in 150 primary schools in Cyprus during 2005–2007. The project explored the role of the principals in the organisation of sustainable schools. A mixed methods approach to data collection was employed combining quantitative and qualitative methods. This paper presents primary school principals’ perceptions of sustainable development, their views on the characteristics and operation of the sustainable schools as well as factors supporting or impeding the development of such schools in Cyprus. Our analysis reveals that the term ‘sustainable school’ is a concept only vaguely understood by the principals. Education for sustainable development is interpreted loosely as environmental education and sustainable schools’ operation is limited to sustainable development’s environmental aspects. Principals place their emphasis on environmental conservation, for satisfying humans’ needs whereas the notion of environment, economy and society are marginalised. The development of sustainable schools in Cyprus is restricted by limitations in time, lack of ESD teacher education, the centralised educational system and the overloaded curriculum. Suggested reinforcing factors are parents’ associations’ support and the school–community dialogue. Further exploration of the principals’ role as potential carriers of change and effective leaders is needed.     

Implementing curriculum guidance on environmental education: the importance of teachers' beliefs

Many observers have commented on disparities between the theoretical understandings of environmental education portrayed in academic literature and the environmental education that takes place in schools. In much of the literature and in curriculum documents there has been an increasing emphasis on promoting positive attitudes towards the environment, and the results of several surveys suggest that many teachers support this aim. This paper explores the beliefs of three geography teachers teaching controversial environmental issues in UK secondary schools. In contrast to the findings of prior studies, the teachers in this study feel strongly that they should try to avoid influencing students' attitudes, or imposing any kind of pro‐environmental agenda. There is a substantial divergence between the teachers' beliefs and the espoused aims of much environmental education literature and the geography syllabus they were following. This suggests that, unless curriculum developers take account of teachers' beliefs in designing new curriculum materials, those materials are unlikely to be implemented in their intended format.     

A study of the Training of Teachers in Environmental Education in England and Wales

There is a growing international debate about the environment and a general agreement that education has an important contribution to make. However, practice in schools has been very variable and with significant curricula changes already planned it is likely that teacher training at all levels will be an important factor in bringing about the required changes. This study investigates the training experiences of teachers currently involved in environmental education and considers their possible future needs.     

An evaluation of characteristics of environmental education practice in New Zealand schools

This paper reports on a national evaluation project that investigated characteristics of environmental education (EE) practice in New Zealand schools in 2002–2003. The research included a review of New Zealand and international environmental education literature, a survey of nearly 200 New Zealand schools and case studies of environmental education practice in eight schools. In this paper we describe and discuss key features of environmental education practice in New Zealand schools at the time of the research. We consider the rewards and challenges for teachers, students, schools and the wider school community arising from the schools’ implementation of this non‐compulsory curriculum subject. We conclude by considering what the findings told us about current EE practice and how these findings might inform a greater emphasis towards environmental education/education for sustainability in New Zealand schools at a time of national curriculum policy change.     

Influences on children’s environmental cognition: a comparative analysis of New Zealand and Mexico

This paper investigates Mexican and New Zealand children’s conception of the environment and their understandings of environmental issues, focusing on how personal experiences, culture and school-based environmental education (EE) programmes influence their perspectives. Sixty Year 5 children (age 9–11) from three schools in Dunedin (New Zealand) and three schools from Ensenada (Mexico), their teachers and school principals were interviewed. The study found that children from both cities had limited opportunities for contact with nature. Most children understood the environment as nature, and did not typically link environmental problems to human activities or social causes. Rarely were children critical of the effect of socio-economic structure on the environment. The analysis shows that children’s understandings of the environment are connected to their personal experiences and mediated by culture. Children from Ensenada had a more global perspective on environmental issues but a more passive attitude towards their local environment, participating in fewer environmental activities than children from Dunedin. In both countries, children from schools with an EE programme did translate environmental practices learnt at school into environmental practices at home. Based on our results, EE could be improved by considering the cultural context, enhancing children’s contact with nature, encouraging critical thinking and more environmental activities.     

Education for Environmental Action in the Community: new roles and relationships

This paper will begin with a critical overview of environmental education as it is currently taught and practised, drawing on empirical data as well as structural and theoretical arguments. Five principal shortcomings are suggested: environmental education is invariably based on a teaching and learning model which is top‐down and centre to periphery; environmental education does not lead to action competence; environmental education lacks authenticity; the track record of demonstrable success in changing the attitudes and values of children to the environment is questionable; the social, cultural and political context must facilitate participation and change. The paper concludes with a brief discussion of four models of the relationship between schools and the local community.     

基于国际认证标准视角的卓越商科教育研究

本文通过分析三大权威商学院认证标准（AACSB、EQUIS、AMBA）框架,对卓越商科教育的本质与特性进行了归纳,认为卓越商科教育的典型特征是具有清晰使命、适应社会需要、高水平国际化、与行业企业保持深度合作、重视商业道德的教育。     

Knowledge,Action and Pro-environmental Behaviour

This article begins by clarifying and discussing the concept of 'pro-environmental behaviour', which (implicitly) constitutes the central concept--or aim--of environmental education in the article. This is followed by a discussion of the concept of knowledge per se and its position in working with environmental problems. These two concepts require further refinement if research efforts are to make a contribution to the development of environmental education. A few examples and conceptual models will be proposed to clarify the discussion. Finally, comments and suggestions are offered for an elaboration of the model proposed by Kollmuss and Agyeman. This present article primarily draws on research and insights into environmental education in schools. Furthermore, the article primarily explores work with environmental problems in Danish schools and focuses on the general pedagogical dimensions of work done in schools in order to relate these directly to issues discussed by Kollmuss and Agyeman.     

推行生态道德教育提升素质健全人格——21世纪学校道德教育的新课题

在各类学校推行生态道德教育,充实学校德育内容,营造生态道德教育的良好氛围,培养作为环境主体的人自小树立环保意识,是当前生态危机日趋严重的形势下所应做出的正确决策。本文从生态道德的内涵与生态环境的变化、必要性和措施等方面进行了探讨。     

高职院校高层次人才队伍建设:现状、困惑与对策——以江苏省为例

随着高等职业教育发展重心从规模扩张到内涵建设的转型,高层次人才的缺乏和贡献率不高制约了高职院校人才培养质量和办学水平的提高,成为制约高等职业教育可持续发展的瓶颈。抽样统计分析发现,我国高职院校高层次人才队伍建设在数量、结构、贡献率、素质等方面均存在一些问题。对此,高职院校应通过创新高层次人才引进、使用、管理、激励及评价机制,加大高层次人才队伍建设经费投入,加强青年后备人才培养,加大国际合作交流力度等措施,加强高层次人才队伍建设。     

Art and Environmental Awareness: A Gloucestershire Case Study

It is my premise that art education can make a distinctive and unique contribution towards the development of environmental awareness and that an art department is well suited to lead a whole school response to environmental education. This paper describes three years work during which a schools cluster group has developed environmental sculpture and collaborative performing arts work within a rural community. My conclusions are drawn from direct experience as active researcher and project manager. The project provides an example of what is possible and I hope, inspiration and stimulation for colleagues wishing to develop environmental work within their community. Every community represents a new challenge.     

关于农村中学开展以生态农业为主题的环境教育活动的思考

发展生态农业 ,改善农业环境 ,是农村环境治理的根本途径。农村中学开展以生态农业为主题的环境教育活动意义重大。本文针对目前农村中学环境教育中存在的问题 ,提出了在教学中以多种形式渗透生态农业教育的建议。     

Negotiating the constraints of schools: environmental education practices within a school district

The purpose of this study was to explore environmental education (EE) practices within elementary and secondary schools. Using complementary mixed-methods (survey and focus groups), we detail these practices in schools (n?=?58) within one school district. Our findings are categorized according to classroom teaching conditions affecting EE, and whole-school perspectives of the supports and resources for EE in these schools. Our analyses reveal that while typical normative teaching and cultural constraints of schools are still evident (e.g. curriculum standards, school-level organization), there are identifiable practices involving administrators and teachers negotiating these challenges due to their personal commitment to schools and the environment. In particular was a provincial environmental certification program called Ecoschools supporting environmental educators’ initiatives at their respective schools. We conclude with a discussion of recommendations based on an interpretation of our findings in relation to the school reform literature on how to enhance EE in schools and propose future research opportunities.     

从环境教育到可持续发展教育

作为人类赖以生存与发展的基础 ,地球环境长期没能受到人类应有的尊重与爱护 ,导致当前人类面临的环境危机。而危机的解决 ,需要人类对现行生产与生活方式全面地反思并进行根本性地改变。教育作为转变思想的工具 ,其作用无可替代。环境教育被看好能承担这样的任务促进这种转变 ,但 30年来的环境教育却被认为是场失败的革新。是现代教育助长了当今的环境问题 ,成为不可持续发展的“贡献者”。在我们目前的状况下 ,可持续发展教育可能是回到那些内在自由、进步的价值观的惟一途径 ,这些价值观曾经是我们教育系统的基础。可持续发展教育是将要改变的教育模式的关键 ,这种教育模式和社会经济组织变化与可持续发展暗含的思想是相和谐的。主流教育观点认为 ,可持续发展教育深深地根植于环境教育之中。目前可持续发展教育的理论和实践都还未完善 ,尚处在探索阶段。在我国新一轮基础教育课程改革中 ,环境教育正在和当前的整体教育改革结合起来 ,推动我国教育的生态化或绿色化 ,使教育成为促进和支持我国可持续发展的基本力量     

中外环境教育研究之概述

环境教育从最初被提出到现在已经走过了五十多年的历程,其概念也从了解关于生物和自然界的知识到处理人与环境之间关系的教育,再到强调全球视角和可持续发展,经历了多次演变。环境教育的彤武大致有基础环境教育、大学环境教育、在职环境教育和民间环境教育等几种。这些形式各有各的独特功能,同时各自也存在着很多问题。要想真正克服这些问题,除了需要我们从上到下的广泛努力之外,还需要借鉴国外的一些成功经验。     

中小学环境教育发展现状研究

环境教育，实质上就是对民众所进行的旨在保护环境、协调人与自然关系的教育。随着环境问题的日益严重，中小学阶段的环境教育也越来越被人们所重视。文章借鉴了国外环境教育的一些成功经验，结合我国中小学环境教育发展现状进行了探讨，希望对我国中小学环境教育的开展有所帮助。     

农村初中美术教育的现状及对策

农村初中美术教育存在的主要问题是:学校片面追求升学率,轻视美术教育;美术教学设备单一,教学模式、方法陈旧;教师学历、专业知识偏低,课改意识淡薄。为解决这些问题,主管部门领导要重视美术教育,在农村初中美术教育中强化审美教育,美化育人环境,促进审美教育;教师应挖掘乡村素材,提高自身的专业和文化素养,分析新课标,探索新方法,优化美术教学结构。     

学校学业乐观:提升学生学业成就的合力

学校学业乐观是教师群体对教与学的积极信念与态度及由此形成的良好学校氛围,由注重学业成就、教师集体效能感以及教师对家长和学生的信任这三个协同作用的成分构成。与社会经济地位、学生先前的学习成就等因素相比,学校学业乐观更能稳定而显著地预测学生的学业成就。学校学业乐观概念的提出及结构成分的确立源自积极心理学、学校组织行为学、教育心理学等多学科的理论与实证研究的支持。     

中等职业学校开展环境教育现状的研究

当前中等职业学校环境教育相对薄弱,中职生已具有一定的环境意识,已逐渐形成对环境问题积极向上的价值判断,但其环境知识尤其是职业环境知识缺乏.他们乐于参加实践性强的环保活动,而学校环境教育活动少,形式单一,内容呆板.     

The Need for Support in Secondary Schools in the Netherlands in the Implementation of Environmental Education

In 1993 a new comprehensive curriculum for secondary education was introduced in the Netherlands. In that curriculum learning objectives related to environmental education are formulated. This paper describes: (1) the present situation regarding EE in schools in the northern part of the Netherlands on the subject level, as regards the relative importance attributed by teachers to the different objectives of environmental education. (2) the constraints and the need for support when teachers want to pay more attention to the various objectives of environmental education. Teachers pay most attention to the objectives of EE that are aimed at improving the knowledge of the relationship between man and the environment and the environmental problems and their causes. They seem to underestimate the objectives aimed at skills and attitudes. Teachers show only a slight tendency to change their current practice towards more environmental education. The main reasons are described. A considerable number of teachers are willing to use support to implement environmental education if that is offered, but more than half have made no decision yet. The kind of support wanted by teachers differs with different objectives. The paper concludes with a discussion of the prerequisites of a supporting programme for the implementation of environmental education.