From Guest Blogger Dimitris Vlachos: Five Reasons We Should Talk About Environmentalism In Classrooms

Do you know the meaning of the word Tao? Don’t worry if you’ve never even heard about it. I first got familiar with the concept when I moved from the US to teach English in China.

Tao broadly means ‘a strong sense of connection to the universe’ or ‘the natural order of things’. I remember one of my Chinese colleagues explaining this to me one day, as we watched children play cheerfully across one of many green spaces in urban areas of China. He compared their carefree play to the feeling of being connected to the Earth.

I liked that comparison very much. I also loved the traditional Chinese respect for nature and their efforts to allow children to stay connected to the environment in the rapidly changing world.

Such experiences in China made me aware of the differences in the way American and Chinese kids see nature and interact with their environment. We live in a world where people depend more and more on their electrical devices, where they type more than talk and can give you numerous facts about endangered species but not recognize the type of tree in front of them.

This distancing from nature is happening to our children too. In his book Last Child in the Woods, Richard Louv uses the phrase ‘nature deficit disorder’ to describe the broken connection between children and nature. In my opinion, this is a very serious matter that needs to be discussed in the classroom more often. These are just some reasons why talking about environmentalism might help our children:
1.They will become more respectful of other beings

As they learn about cycles in nature and food chains, the children will realize that we’re all connected to every other living thing on the planet. This understanding will create more empathy in them, ultimately leading them to protect their environment, to help other living things.

Next time they want to poke a frog with a stick or step angrily on a bug, they might stop and think. Learning about nature will make them better human beings.

2. They will be healthier and smarter

Outdoor activities are perfect opportunities for strengthening the connection between children and nature. With some introductory warm-up sessions in the classroom, the kids could be given a certain task to complete in a botanical garden, park or a zoo.

At first, some children might be afraid of getting their clothes dirty, or even seeing insects, but, in time, they will all relax and set to work full of joy. The fresh air will be very good for them and exploring will broaden their knowledge.
3. They will teach their parents

As adults, we’re mostly in a hurry – trying to provide, to solve, to complete. We don’t have time to worry about some very serious issues affecting our planet. Perhaps our kids can make us stop for a while and think.

If parents notice how important environmental issues are to their children and how much they know about the world around them, they too will pay more attention and maybe try to change some of their habits. On their next outing or walk with their kids, they will listen more carefully, participate more keenly and remember certain things they used to know as children.
4. They will have a lot of fun

I remember that as a child I didn’t particularly like lessons about the environment. They were boring, full of facts and difficult words.

This doesn’t need to be the case. Thanks to technology, we now have access to many fantastic nature documentaries. Natural history museums offer excellent workshops that enhance children’s understanding and respect for the natural world. Schools can provide a small piece of land for children to start their vegetable plot. There are gardens, parks, zoos – all waiting to be discovered and rediscovered.
5. They will make our future better

Teaching about environmental issues on a large scale is investing in our future. In the long term, we could create generations that are aware of the dangers our planet is in and of the ways to help her.

Greater understanding of things leads to a mind more open and to a soul more caring.
It is true that our planet is facing dire environmental problems. If we address them prudently and seriously, and most of all, if we invest in our children by teaching them how to protect nature, our future will hold solutions and not more problems.

The classroom is the place where the hope for a safer environment lies.