Key Ideas of Multicultural Environmental Education
Introduction:
Three Circles Center, on the basis of much research, scores of workshops
and graduate classes taught, has developed some guiding ideas for the new
field of
Multicultural Environmental Education.
This material draws on the experiences and aspirations of hundreds of environmental
educators, students, community and Environmental Justice activists, and others
who learned with me what we need to do to effectively meet the challenges of
a diverse society. Three Circles Center invites the critical review and continued
refinement of this material.
The "Key Ideas" formulated here are copyrighted by Three Circles
Center. Please do not reprint without permission of the author. Contact Running-Grass,
Executive Director, Three Circles Center.
Key Ideas of Multicultural Environmental Education
Commitment to Education for Action and Action for Justice
A Multicultural Environmental Education critiques the ideologies and forces
which oppress people and nature and seeks their transformation through
research, imagination and concerted action.
Multicultural Environmental Education recognizes
no contradiction between sound educational practices and the commitment
of educators to Environmental Justice.
Acknowledging the Diversity of Students and Communities
In order to develop more inclusive program models, curricula and teaching
practices, Multicultural Environmental Education acknowledges that children
may have different needs for environmental education programs shaped by their
community conditions, socio-economic status and cultural, racial and national
backgrounds.
Multicultural Environmental Education uses the teaching opportunity
to assist students in becoming aware of, understanding, accepting and valuing
other
cultures and their environmental experiences and traditions.
Multicultural
Environmental Education illuminates the idea that all cultures have relationships
with their environments, from which they and others
can draw upon for understanding and inspiration.
Disproportionate Impacts on Health
Multicultural Environmental Education recognizes that ecosystem health
and the health of communities and individuals are inextricably linked. It
recognizes that health, in a polluted world, is an Environmental Justice
issue and that children are especially susceptible to environmental threats.
Multicultural
Environmental Education recognizes that environmental quality is a key
element of successful learning and student achievement.
Meaningful Involvement
Multicultural Environmental Education affirms that empowerment of communities
and their social and economic development are essential and necessary goals
of sustainable environmental quality and that achievement of environmental
literacy is an important step towards those goals.
Multicultural Environmental
Education involves families and communities directly and significantly
in the development and implementation of environmental
education curricula, teaching practices and programs. Such involvement
is essential to achieving inclusivity and empowerment.
Vision for a Culturally Diverse Planet
Multicultural Environmental Education envisions a multicultural society
at peace with the natural world and itself. Our work is an essential catalyst
for healing, inclusivity and justice.
Multicultural Environmental Education
takes a planetary perspective, making the connection between local, regional,
national and planetary Environmental
Justice issues.
