ERIC Number: EJ937138
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2011
Pages: 11
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0814-0626
EISSN: N/A
An Australian Story: School Sustainability Education in the Lucky Country
Salter, Zarin; Venville, Grady; Longnecker, Nancy
Australian Journal of Environmental Education, v27 n1 p149-159 2011
This paper documents a case study involving a Perth primary school accompanied on its sustainability journey by Millennium Kids Inc, a local not-for-profit community organisation. Tension between the school's sustainability focus, its prestige as an elite private school and a "lucky country" mentality frames the Australian-ness of this environmental education story. Data draws from interviews conducted with teachers, the deputy principal, principal, and CEO of Millennium Kids. School staff reported that Millennium Kids' collaborative approach connected the school with community groups and families in meaningful ways, provided support to staff, and influenced curriculum integration by engaging the student voice. Challenges in the school related to managing expectations from families, leadership that fosters shared responsibility, and teachers' efforts to integrate sustainability across learning areas. A pattern of sustainability education was established in the school but these challenges could encumber the longevity, integration and support for these initiatives in the future. (Contains 2 figures.)
Descriptors: Curriculum Development, Private Schools, Environmental Education, Educational Change, School Personnel, Case Studies, Sustainability, Elementary Schools, Nonprofit Organizations, Interviews, Administrator Attitudes, Teacher Attitudes
Australian Association for Environmental Education, Inc. P.O. Box 560, Bellingen, NSW 2454, Australia. Tel: +61-2-6655-1865; Fax: +61-2-6655-1596; e-mail: admin@aaee.org.au; Web site: http://www.aaee.org.au/publications/ajee.htm
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Evaluative
Education Level: Elementary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Australia
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A