Nature Deficit Disorder

Nature Deficit Disorder

by Steve Auger

Unprecedented changes in how young people relate to the outdoors and nature have resulted in a newly emerging phenomenon called "nature deficit disorder."  Kids are not only more "plugged in" than ever before, but no longer spend hours daily outdoors and interacting with nature.  "The implications for environmental literacy are not yet known."  Environmental Literacy IN AMERICA 

What we do know is that environmental literacy in America is woefully inadequate.   Most of our environmental knowledge is obtained via the media, not through properly scrutinized educational programs.  Environmental research by NEETF & Roper resulted in studies indicating that only 1/3 of American adults can pass a simple environmental quiz. 

Since the Cuyahoga River fire of 1969, environmental education has become highly popular.   Annually, 30 millioin students and over 1 million teachers participate in environmental education.   Hundreds of colleges now offer environmental science and natural resource programs.  But there is a very disturbing pattern emerging:  despite  increasing environmental education activities over the last 40 years, there is no significant difference in knowledge levels for those people graduating from high school before and after 1970.  With all this increase education going on, one would expect that young people would have a better grasp of environmental issue.   Yet there has been no appreciable improvement  in environmentaly knowledge among the young.

We need to counteract "Nature Deficit Disorder".  This can be accomplished by encouraging our young to spend more with nature and less time with keyboards.  As parents and concerned environmentalists we need to be more vocal and acitve regarding the contents of school curriculums.   Although there is more environmental information being taught in schools, Environmental Education has not reached Core Subject status.  And it is not hands on education. 

I would like to end this post with a quote from Environmental Literacy IN AMERICA:

"...What passes for environmental education in American is usually environmental information. One might compare it to the difference between a full-course meal and a quick snack. True education nourishes a deeper understanding and an all-important ability to skillfully apply that knowledge; information simply makes one aware of a topic and goes no farther. Ironically, it seems that many of those who have a powerful vision of widespread environmental literacy are unaware of this basic distinction, and therein lies environmental education's principal stumbling block. Those who are often the most anxious for improved public environmental understanding are prolific information providers but lack skill as educators. They publish checklists and guidebooks, give public addresses, issue press releases, produce films, obtain media coverage, print attractive posters, and more. But these attempts at education are cursory, lack expert pedagogy, and fall short of creating actual environmental literacy."

The Need for Education in Environmental Science

The Need for Education in Environmental Science

Author: ciel s cantoria

In the past twenty years or so, our world has been facing environmental problems in different categories: natural disasters, technological devastations and environmental degradation. Environmentalists have been active in finding ways to solve the never ending influx of ecological and environmental dilemmas. These are consistently evident and occurring globally; but still man’s own persistence to ravage and destroy nature, wins.

We all live in this world with much gusto; provide houses and sprawling commercial complexes at a rate that we could highly think as possible. We pollute and devastate to a large scale and yet we expect that the earth will remain pliant and giving as ever.

The world we live in is old, ancient in fact. What it needs is care and pampering the way we treat our elders. We recognize the fact that old people need not be forced into work but let them relax and retire. It is our natural instinct to do just this because we want to prolong their stay with us, knowing that there is too little left in their years.

This is how we should treat Mother Earth. She has given us so much since time immemorial yet all we do is take and give nothing in return. Endless pollutants are our constant contribution and we do not pay heed to the signs that she is breaking down. Soon enough, she will put her foot down one more time just to let us know she’s just about had it. She will let out a torrent of her natural calamities just to put us back in our places.

Then we will all be left stunned, shocked, awed and in anguish.

However, there are those who truly care but are out numbered. They belong to the higher levels of learning hence they understand. There is still hope that these individuals although few in numbers could make a difference. Our educational system has recognized them. Universities have opened their doors by offering degrees and different programs in order to fully harness their capabilities in taking care of our world.

Let us hope against hope that they will grow in numbers for they might soon prove to be our salvation. The fact that universities offer these Environmental Education programs during this modern day of high technology means that there are those who would rather get their hands dirtied by digging deep in the soil instead of pounding on keyboards.

Mother Nature may yet change her mind about wreaking havoc on us for ravaging the earth. Here’s hoping that more and more individuals will realize that technological development is nothing if the physicality of the world we live in will finally succumb to its weakening.

For those out there who are not aware that there are learning programs about Environmental Education, a list of some of the universities and colleges as well as the courses they offer are detailed at this link

http://www.awma.org/enviro_edu/college_ed/undergraduate_programs.html?UniversityID=817

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/science-articles/the-need-for-education-in-environmental-science-654245.html

About the Author:

The author is an active freelance writer at GetAFreelance.com(GAF). She has ghostwritten numerous articles,blogs, e-books, e-reports, product reviews and press releases.She is likewise active in her career as a CPA in the Philippines, her native country.

Aticle URL: http://www.articlesbase.com/science-articles/the-need-for-education-in-environmental-science-654245.html