The Failure of Environmental Education

by Charles Saylan, Daniel Blumstein

At a time when wild places everywhere are vanishing before our eyes, Charles Saylan and Daniel T. Blumstein offer this passionate indictment of environmental education―along with a new vision for the future. Writing for general readers and educators alike, Saylan and Blumstein boldly argue that education today has failed to reach its potential in fighting climate change, biodiversity loss, and environmental degradation. In this forward-looking book, they assess the current political climate, including the No Child Left Behind Act, a disaster for environmental education, and discuss how education can stimulate action―including decreasing consumption and demand, developing sustainable food and energy sources, and addressing poverty. Their multidisciplinary perspective encompasses such approaches as school gardens, using school buildings as teaching tools, and the greening of schoolyards. Arguing for a paradigm shift in the way we view education as a whole, The Failure of Environmental Education demonstrates how our education system can create new levels of awareness and work toward a sustainable future.

Genres: Education, Environment, Nonfiction

256 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2011

Reviews

[Jen]

Sweeping generalizations with no references to research. If a book makes me roll my eyes and shout out loud to the authors multiple times within just the first couple chapters, it's not worth the time. Mind you, I wanted to like this book. They had an easy audience. Unreadable.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had to read this for class but it was well worth the time spent on it. The authors don't merely point out the failings of EE. They also offer insights, as educators, into how to improve the system to incorporate successful EE into school curricula, and hopefully reform education overall. The key to the future is to shift the paradigm of education from one of economic gains to one of continued sustainability. By implementing functional and effective EE within educational systems, this goal can be achieved.

[Stephen Stresow · Rating 4 out of 5]

the book started off really strong with tangible examples of curriculum and classroom interventions that could be implemented as well as the support that would be needed from schools. As the book went on, the focus shifted to environmental issues as a whole, which, while valuable, diluted some of the effectiveness of the book (this could also be because I have been reading on this subject a lot). it offered great insights into the political process and the role individuals can play

[MollyKate Mclaughlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

At a time when wild places everywhere are vanishing before our eyes, Charles Saylan offers this passionate indictment of environmental education—along with a new vision for the future. Writing for general readers and educators alike, Saylan argues that education today has failed to reach its potential in fighting climate change, biodiversity loss, and environmental degradation. In this forward-looking book, he assess the current political climate, including the No Child Left Behind Act, a disaster for environmental education, and discuss how education can stimulate action—including decreasing consumption and demand, developing sustainable food and energy sources, and addressing poverty. The multidisciplinary perspective encompasses such approaches as school gardens, using school buildings as teaching tools, and the greening of schoolyards. Arguing for a paradigm shift in the way we view education as a whole, The Failure of Environmental Education demonstrates how our education system can create new levels of awareness and work toward a sustainable future.

This is a great book for any teacher or adult to read to understand where environmental education has failed and give them ways to improve it.

[Guilherme · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is really an excellent book. Saylan and Blumstein point the way when they write we must create conscious citizens if we want to improve our relationship with the environment. Technical information is essential, but alone it won't solve anything. It is necessary to discuss other aspects, such as our duties as citizens, and to give more value to other subjects than only science or biology in our schools.

[Karen Siddall · Rating 3 out of 5]

Coherent discussion of the state of the system of environmental education today. Sets down the basic issues of politics, No Child Left Behind, and economics. Admits their proposal are utopian but still inspires.

[Kristin · Rating 3 out of 5]

It had its moments, but really started to drive me crazy with the generalizations and the lack of case studies and/or research, data, etc.

[Steve · Rating 5 out of 5]

An obvious problem with many not-so-obvious reasons. This is clearly a vital issue, and arming yourself with this narrative will be a huge help in this arena.

[Ikhwan Muhammad · Rating 5 out of 5]

good book