Children are resorting to “green pester power”, pushing their parents to act more sustainably – and their efforts are paying off, according to a new report published on the 20th September 2011.
by Michael Smith (Veshengro)
Half of parents say they struggle to answer their children’s questions about green issues – more than half for instance, incorrectly put the blame for climate change on carbon monoxide.
But six in ten say their children are persuading them to be greener, with recycling, conserving water and leaving the car at home among the things their offspring are asking them to do most often…and when they’re pressured, 95 per cent of them change their behavior as a result.
The study is published by The Co-operative, to mark the official launch of its Green Schools Revolution (GSR) educational program, which forms part of its groundbreaking Ethical Plan. The program will meet the needs of information-hungry children, who rate green issues a close third in terms of learning priorities just behind Maths and English.
More than four in five parents believe their children learn more about the environment at school than they did – two in five say they were taught nothing about the issues at all.
The Co-operative Group says it has been “overwhelmed” by the pre-registration demand for the program’s range of teaching materials from more than 2,500 primary and secondary schools across the UK, caring for over one million children.
Paul Monaghan, Head of Sustainability at the Co-operative Group said: “We are lucky that our youngsters have such a tremendous appetite to learn more about green issues and make a difference.
“Through our Green Schools Revolution program, we hope to do our bit to help the thousands of switched on teachers who want to ensure the next generation are better equipped for the challenge of building a more sustainable world. However, parents aren’t off the hook – clearly they need extra homework and the programme will put children in a good position to teach them.”
Farmer and television presenter, Jimmy Doherty has been launching the program with the help of schoolchildren at a London primary school. He said: “As a parent, a farmer, and an enthusiastic advocate of sustainable living, I think it is vitally important to educate our children about green issues from an early age. I’ve been passionate about the environment since I was a teenager, but back then there was little information around to inspire others to change, so I’m delighted to see that The Co-operative is launching its Green Schools Revolution program, which offers so much to encourage children to consider their environmental impact as second nature.”
All GSR schools across the country will have access to a wide range of free cross-curricular classroom resources and activities through www.greenschools.coop, giving young people and teachers the tools to inspire change in their schools, homes and local communities.
The Co-operative is offering schools free fun and educational visits to its own wind farm to see renewable energy in action and to seven Co-operative Farms to see firsthand how food grows and how to cook it. Schools will be able to take advantage of free high visibility jackets to help set up “walking buses” for pupils, helping both schools and parents to take practical action to cut their carbon emissions.
One of the most urgent issues must be, however, to educate children and adults alike not just about climate change and such like but to bring them back closer the Nature.
Our disconnection from Nature in the civilized countries, and true even for those that live in the countryside, is what is causing much of the problems we are having.
We no longer have an affinity with Nature and therefore we do not understand what consequences our actions have on the environment and everything else.
Modern man has become to detached from Nature as a whole, and that already for quite a considerable time, especially those that live predominately in towns and cities, that no consideration is being given as to what happens to all the toxic materials that we use, abuse and then dispose off, often in not an appropriate manner.
While anything and everything that will bring understanding to the people in general, children and adults alike, as to what is happening to Nature and the Planet an understanding needs to be developed as to the fact that the smallest action against Mother Nature can have a profound impact.
Thus we need to educate children (and adults) away from consumerism and the “I want, I want, I want” attitude and of wanting always new, towards a new way which is actually the old way. Namely that of making do with what we have and actually enjoying what we have instead of never being satisfied with what we have.
© 2011
The Greek economic crisis led to devastating cuts in social services, including preschool childcare – but a new model of education is now emerging, with parents forming a co-operative to fill the gap.
