Australian teachers are falling behind on implementing mandatory climate curriculum – Watts Up With That?
Essay by Eric Worrall
Despite climate change being a mandatory part of the Australian curriculum, teachers are “reluctant to include it” due to pressure from parents.
Months after students strike for climate action, some teachers still find the topic ‘too controversial’ to tackle
Via Sacha Payne
…
Some Australian teachers still find climate change a “controversial” and difficult topic to teach, education researchers say.
Researchers call for emphasis on practical approaches to tackling climate change issues, to avoid causing “environmental anxiety” among students.
…
The 2022 national curriculum update places a greater emphasis on teaching about climate change in schools, but Dr White said this was limited.
“We are seeing a bit of an increase in opportunities to explore climate change education through this curriculum, mainly in the areas of science and geography in Year 10,” she said.
“Unfortunately, a lot of students across Australia don’t study science or geography in year 10. So that’s a bit of a challenge there.”
Teachers face backlash for teaching about climate change
Climate change is also included in the curriculum of some states and territories, but Dr White said many teachers did not have the resources or desire to include it in their curriculum.
“They are managing all kinds of family attitudes. And that shows up very clearly in the classroom,” she said.
…
Read more: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-08-07/climate-change-education-school-teachers-students/104183462
While researchers say they advise teachers to take a “factual” approach, there is evidence that Australia’s climate curriculum is causing huge harm to children’s mental health.
Imagine what it would be like for parents if their kids came home from a mandatory climate lesson and told them, “Today we learned that we are all going to die – and it is your fault!”
It’s no wonder teachers are under pressure to reduce stress.
And for those teachers who refuse to loosen up, I wonder how many kids in their classes are being coached by their parents to lie to teachers? I’ve spoken to parents who told me they’ve used this tactic—telling their kids the climate crisis is fake, then coaching them to lie to their teachers.
Teaching kids to lie to teachers from a young age is bad, but it’s better than seeing kids develop mental health issues because they believe the world is coming to an end, or because they’re constantly bullied by climate fanatic teachers for “not” memorizing all the leftist green apocalypse garbage they’re being taught.
Related
