The aim of the present paper is to awake awareness of the term "sustainable development" and show that the very term is not understood in a unilateral way. A discrepancy of perception and thus understanding of the notion of sustainability blurs its meaning. Numerous scholars and researchers use the term sustainable or sustainability to refer to the area where abilities of using methods to prevent natural resources can be demonstrated. Besides, scholars and researchers, especially in Central Europe, approach sustainability in a holistic way, paying more attention to a doer (subject) than to the doer's vicinity full of natural resources (objects). Also school teachers in Poland, when given a task to explain the meaning of sustainable development, tend to underscore personal, social and intellectuals' abilities and skills of people. The teachers' observations served as catalysts to develop the presented in the paper discussion and conclusions.