Although teachers today are very well prepared, one area of thinking that is not yet emphasized in teacher training courses of study is sustainability education.  The concept of sustainability has not even been adequately introduced to classroom or pre-service teachers.

Today's teachers are, however, trained in the use of integrated, thematic units that incorporate many areas into one unit or course of study.  They are also trained to reach a wide diversity of cultures and to serve students with a variety of learning styles and learning challenges.  They learn to use the Internet as a research and information tool.  Many know how to operate the newest multi-media computer software programs.

Sustainability education involves studies of a variety of systems--social, political, and economic--in relation to real-life issues.  Contemporary attitudes about what students must study in order to receive a quality education result in curricular constraints.  Often teachers have little time to relate the learning to environmental concerns, other disciplines, community issues, etc. Too often students learn subject areas in an isolated fashion, failing to relate English with math, history with art, etc.  Too often the environment is left out of the learning equation altogether.

The emphasis is placed on specific subject areas such as history, social sciences, mathematics, and English.  This leaves precious little time for teachers to encourage students to relate their learning to current community issues. Assessment tests like the SAT and ACT stress learning that is factual and concrete, and test specific skills with right and wrong answers.  Teachers feel pressured to cover those testable concepts, and to ignore or play down problem-solving and analysis activities.

Sustainability education should be a critical component of today's education because it allows students to explore resources, related issues, and solutions from a variety of social, scientific, historical, political and economic perspectives.  Sustainability education includes analytical thinking and problem-solving skills.   Students need such skills to make inform-ed decisions about how to use the world's resources in a prudent and informed way for the benefit of the present and future generations.

Toni Rockwell
Ridout Elementary School
Tahoe City, CA