생태중심적 유아환경교육에 관한 기초 연구 = A Preliminary Study on Ecocentric Early Childhood Environmental Education

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

The viewpoint of this paper starts with an outlook on the nature-human`s attitude towards nature. The root cause of many environmental problems results from the human-oriented outlook on the nature which regards nature and humans separately. To overcome today`s environmental crisis, our sense of nature`s value must be changed rather than emphasizing the current doctor-after-death action. In this paper, ecocentrism is derived from ecology. The purpose of this paper is to find directions to advance in early childhood environmental education in the ecocentric point of view and help early childhood educators have a correct understanding of environmental education. Humans must grow out of its human-oriented outlook on the nature which makes a tool of nature by distinguishing humans and nature separately, follow the biological law of nature rationally, and contribute to its peace through harmony with all ecosystem. Based on these ecocentric outlooks on nature, some possibilities for advancement in early childhood environmental education are as follows: First, recognize that humans are an integral part of nature and the child belongs to nature. Second, recognize that the child has sensibility and understanding to the importance of the environment and the beauty of nature. Third, recognize that throughout history humans have lived and will continue to live on the earth; that earth is the environment in which the humans of the future will live. Fourth, recognize that throughout early childhood education, there is an order that transcends human`s control-in other words, the order of nature. Fifth, recognize that the ecosystem surrounding us is a great life community and all beings in the ecosystem influence every other living thing rather than existing separately as an independent entity. Sixth, recognize that the once destroyed environment is impossible to return to its original state.