Environmental Education

Environmental education emerged in the 1960s as the term for the educational dimensions of the environment movement that, at that time, was concerned about air and water quality (pollution), the growth in world population, continuing depletion of natural resources, and environmental degradation. Early definitions were framed as being aimed at producing citizens that are knowledgeable about the biophysical environment and its associated problems, aware of how to solve these problems, and motivated to work toward their solution. Some proponents trace the roots of environmental education in the United States to conservation education and the liberal–progressive educational philosophies of, for example, John Dewey. Much of the activity in environmental education in the United States continues this tradition, [Page 340]and some writers attempt to truncate discussion of ...