Teachers Saving the World!

Where is our world going? Here are some issues we are facing at the moment.

“Eleven million children die per year before reaching five years of age.”

“Every 3.6 seconds a person dies of hunger! 75 % of them are children!”

“In 2010, female full-time workers made only 77 cents for every dollar earned by men” 

 

“The Taliban's main fear is not drones but educated girls”

“Worldwide, 126 million children work in hazardous conditions, often enduring beatings, humiliation and sexual violence by their employers.”

 

“Year 2011: 7 606 homeless singles and 423 homeless families in Finland.”

“Growing up in a war zone takes its toll as young play games of murder and mayhem”

  

“World wastes 1 billion tons of food a year”

“World Meteorological Organisation data shows average global temperature to date is 14.45C, higher than long-term average”

Do we want our children to live in a world like this, or should we do something about it? What can we, teachers, do?

Sustainable development has become an important topic for schools, too. It is quite often understood as taking care of the environment (switching off the lights when leaving the room, recycling etc). But sustainable development is much more! 

United Nations defines it shortly: Future We Want. An economically, socially and environmentally sustainable future for our planet and for present and future generations.  

In the schools sustainable development can also mean ensuring a safe learning and working environment. Taking care of the students and the employees. Educating as many students as possible, and ensuring education for all. Making sure no-one drops out.  Responsible education: high quality education, and meeting the requirements of work life.  

Schools should use only reliable suppliers, who have committed to work for sustainable development. Cheapest may not be the best! Schools should also order materials to meet the demand - not more than needed. Less waste, and justified costs!

An individual teacher can teach sustainable development by being a role model. I think teaching the right attitude is once again really important. Yet, it is not enough just to switch off the lights after a lesson. A teacher should give the students ethical dilemmas and challenges - in other words, the students should be challenged to think how to carry out work in a sustainable way.

As a business teacher I could ask my students to come up with solutions to solve problems they may face when expanding a business globally. Are they prepared to give up child labour, hazardous work conditions or black labour even if it means more costs for the company? How would they take care of the environment? I could also use case studies such as IKEA, and collaborate with the local community in order to strengthen the well-being among its members.

Here are couple of links where you can find more practical tips how to teach sustainable development in schools:

http://www.etf.europa.eu/web.nsf/pages/Sustainability_education_How_to_make_it_concrete__EN

http://www.unesco.org/education/tlsf/