From Guest Blogger Devin Morrissey: The State of K-12 Climate Change Education

Students have a right to learn about the dangers of climate change. The health risks are monumental. Over time, extreme weather events will continue to reduce the availability of safe food and water. For some communities, this will lead to widespread malnutrition and sickness. The air quality will worsen and temperatures will rise.

While the damage thus far is irreversible, future generations must be informed so that further damage can be avoided. Through adaptive management, national and local policies concerning energy conservation and pollution reduction could be improved in the future. This is the purpose of implementing climate change awareness in K-12 education.

This is not a topic to be taken lightly or ignored, but public schools around the U.S. are doing just that.

Are Current Efforts Adequate?

Science teachers in public education are generally failing to sufficiently cover climate change. In a nationwide survey reported in an article on NPR, only 75% of public educators broach the subject at all. Even then, this coverage is usually limited to one or two hours. The article goes on to state that only about half of all science teachers are communicating the fact that the consumption of fossil fuels is the major cause of global warming. Worse, 10% of US science teachers deny that humans have played any role in climate change.

There is a clear divide between the consensus of climate scientists on the truth of climate change and the disparate approaches to the subject taken by science teachers. Why are science teachers teaching bogus science? One problem is that science teacher candidates do not need to be versed in climate science to qualify for employment. Furthermore, dated classroom material can lack data on climate change, or even contain misinformation about our role in it.

A potential solution is for science teachers to seek out more information about the subject. Many organizations offer teacher workshops that support k-12 sustainability education. Arizona State University, for example, has offered such workshops since 2015. For teachers seeking further education, online courses are an option. ASU, which was rated in the top 1% nationally for online education, also offers online degrees in sustainability.

Informed Citizens Support Informed Policies

If we expect students today to take energy and pollution concerns seriously, teachers need to help them grow into informed citizens. Supporting critical thought will help pupils become discriminating consumers of information — and informed citizens support informed policies. By teaching the importance of critical analysis and evidence-based arguments, educators can equip students to dispel misinformation about the subject.

There are several steps that educators can take to further climate change education. Obviously, the first step is to introduce the topic to the classroom. The EPA offers a wide variety of resources and lesson plans on their website for all grade levels. These resources cover a wide range of topics, including air/water pollution, energy conservation, and waste reduction.

Both sides of the issue should be presented to students. While the controversy is social in nature rather than scientific, discussing both viewpoints will arm students with the capacity to critically analyze erroneous arguments. Allowing students to debate these issues will organically guide them towards a better understanding of climate change. Emphasizing personal agency is key. Allowing students to investigate issues and come to an informed decision on their own terms is key to promoting social change.

Education is key to creating socially responsible citizens. On a personal level, this awareness can even push individuals to embrace simple ways of living greener. While these changes may seem trivial, they can have a significant impact in the long term. Spreading climate change awareness in K-12 education can help young people understand and respond to the needs of a changing planet.