Richard Kahn’s “Towards Eco-Pedgogy” is an
informative essay that highlights much of what is discussed in class on a
weekly basis: the environment. In my opinion, the essay is basically broken
into three parts.
The first section is Kahn’s argument
that in order for us to even care about human relationships, we must first care
about the environment. Caring about the environment says that we care about
what is around us and therefore means that we can then be concerned about the
people around us to a greater extent. Kahn also brings up the major point that
we have a huge project in front of us to protect the environment by means of
sustainability. If the environment has to be developed, then sustainability is
how it needs to happen in order to do the most preservation possible.
The second section is Kahn’s opinion
that there is a general “illiteracy” about the nature of just how big the
ecological catastrophe we are facing is. If we do not do something about it,
then the future for the environment may prove to be very grim. If we do not
directly see devastating effects than our children and grandchildren definitely
will but that is not something that most people are even concerned about. He
also brings up the idea that people want the environment to be fixed and are
educated enough to take steps to do so, but they do not know the root cause
therefore they have no way to fix it. When people feel they do not know all of
the information for an issue, they hardly feel that they need to do something
about it.
Kahn’s third major section is the
solution that he provides. He says that we do not simply just need
environmental education, but we need means of sustainable development. The
World Commission on Environment and Development says that sustainable development
is “development that meets the needs of the present without compromising
the ability of future generations to meet their own needs." Basically, we
need solutions to fix the environmental crisis we currently have now without
destroying more for future generations. Part of being conscious of the world
around us is being mindful of those who will come after us.
To go along with this, Kahn says
that the institutions teaching environmental education need to be revamped. Many
teachers that teach the material often either go over board and scare students
out of wanting to do something about the environment or they treat it as if it
is no big issue so students do not feel the need to be concerned. A happy medium
needs to be found so that students are moved to act for their own personal
reasons but are not forced into it. People are way more passionate about
something if that come to a conclusion on their own behalf.
Out of all the essays and articles
we have had to read, Kahn seems much less “extreme” than many of the other
authors. Because of this, it was much easier for me to take what he had to say
into consideration. He himself embodies what he means by a revamp to the
institutions teaching environmental education.
Your summary of Kahn's article is very well written and precise. I think you discussed every point that Kahn makes in a much simpler fashion. I would agree that Kahn is much less "extreme" than the other author's we have read and has a decent solution to the issue... Education. Environmentalism is hardly focused on once one is out of elementary school. While at a young age, kids understand what protecting the environment is, they do not really care, they just want to know when recess starts. If environmentalism was taught at a higher age level, young adults would be more likely to do something to protect the environment and watch their actions.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your points on Kahn. A main difference between our opinions is that I do not believe Kahn's solution of education is really a solution at a lot, more of just a idea that may not accomplish much of anything. I also enjoyed Kahn's article the best, because, as you pointed out, his was the least radical. He used less scare tactics and approached the situation much more calmly than the others we have read.
ReplyDeleteYour analysis of Kahn's article was spot on. You did a good job in summarizing what he was saying, but in simpler terms than he stated it. You are right in saying that Kahn is not as radical as the authors of the other articles we have read. I think you are right in saying that a middle ground needs to be reached for students. Nobody likes having environmental issues pounded into their heads.
ReplyDelete