The Need to Teach Green

By Simone Peinke and Remy Raitt

Grahamstown schools are doing nothing to alleviate the crisis everyone on Earth agrees will soon overwhelm us. National environmental policies have been skipping school, leaving a number of Grahamstown teachers concerned. “Schools have a responsibility to teach environmental education,” said Les Mitchell, a science teacher at Nombulelo Secondary School, “It’s a lifestyle. It’s needed for democracy. Learners know that the environment is not the way it should be.”

The few environmental projects operating at some local schools have been initiated by motivated individuals. “If you have a positive attitude you are halfway there,” said Mario Agnew, a geography teacher at Mary Waters High School. Agnew organises weekly environmental talks and activities. The environmental club - named Eden - was initiated by a former Rhodes student, Helen Fox. Agnew has found it challenging convincing learners to stay after school for club meetings, although he believes that the few keen learners who attend will share their knowledge and influence peers and families.

Environmental education should not begin and end in the classroom, said Piet Snyders, principal at PJ Olivier high school. His school takes water from Grey Dam water daily for irrigation and toilet systems when the town experiences water shortages. This has taught learners the importance of keeping the dam clean. Grade 6 and 7 learners regularly clear up litter strewn on its banks.

The new curriculum incorporates environmental education, but according to Mitchell this will take a while to be properly implemented. “Teachers cannot merely preach to students on environmental issues,” Mitchell said, “we need to see practical changes taking place. We need to see recycling projects, clean ups and other things that practically teach learners the importance of the environment.” According to Mitchell, practical involvement by learners will help them to realise the immediate concerns they should have for their local environment.

Polluted pavements, burst water pipes and spoilt scenery are all over Grahamstown. Education could alleviate problems like these by instilling environmental awareness and respect among learners. “We must teach our children to look after the environment now,” said Agnew, “The environment is crucial for our survival. If we don’t start teaching about how it is threatened now, there will be nothing to look after in the future.”