Mapping the Distance Between Social Studies and Environmental Education: A Statewide Social Studies Teacher Survey

• In Event: 45.066 - Climate Change and Critical Science Agency: Is "Knowing" Enough?

Abstract

What do social studies teachers believe about environmental issues, and what do they convey about them explicitly (and implicitly) when teaching about the subject area’s primary goal of civic competence? Further, how do local, state, national, and global associations of place shape this pedagogy? This paper presents the results of an online survey in October of 2017 of over 1200 public-school social studies teachers across Pennsylvania. Analysis of the results raises considerations for the field of environmental education. A central conclusion is that environmental education curriculum workers and researchers cannot afford to overlook teaching and learning in social studies classrooms in their construction of what environmental education is and can be.

Authors

• Mark T Kissling, The Pennsylvania State University

• Jonathan Bell, The Pennsylvania State University