K-12 Education and the Environment: Perspectives, Expectations, and Practice

Abstract

If American schools are to serve the general welfare of a democratic society, they must effectively promote education for responsible citizenship. This article summarizes and evaluates dissimilar perspectives about what this means and how it should be approached in the context of practical approaches to education about or for the environment.

Key Words:

• environmental literacy
• responsible citizenship
• responsible environmental behavior
• value fair

Additional information

Notes on contributors

John F. Disinger

John F. Disinger is a professor emeritus at the School of Natural Resources, The Ohio State University, Columbus. He is a former president of the North American Association for Environmental Education, a recent member of the Independent Commission on Environmental Education, and a current member of the Environmental Literacy Council.