Attitudes to environmental awareness

Abstract

We are drifting into a deepening environmental crisis. Some of the problems can no longer be avoided, but teachers should play a very important role in reducing them. At the same time, any recognition in this respect does not shape equally our work and our perception of the possibilities of environmental and conservation attitudes related to the school. An online questionnaire survey was used to explore this situation, which was completed by 256 teachers in Hungary. The analysis revealed that the vast majority of the participants consider it important to develop attitudes to environmental awareness in their lessons. Through personal examples of teachers, it can be demonstrated that it is possible to improve environmental awareness in the framework of any subject. This is important for most participants and it is considered as an expectation from teachers. Ninety percent have already used these specific tasks in their classes, but only three out of ten have taken part in out-of-school programmes, as organizer or supporter. Those who do not use such methods justified it by indicating lack of time and resources. Some of them argued that organizing such „external” programmes is not their task. At the same time, the desk research has pointed out that extracurricular programmes help to put the theoretical knowledge into practice and gain key experiences that contribute greatly to shaping their approach.