We dissipate resources and energy in modern life. Our life is against the system of nature giving us sufficient benefits, as seen in excessive use of air conditioning or heating, increase the number of cars, abundance of synthetic, high-molecular prod...
We dissipate resources and energy in modern life. Our life is against the system of nature giving us sufficient benefits, as seen in excessive use of air conditioning or heating, increase the number of cars, abundance of synthetic, high-molecular products, and excessive discharge of wastes. Global warming and rapid climate changes are causing unprecedented natural disasters. The cause of all these phenomena may be directly related to our lifestyle. Reduction in carbon discharge in daily life became a duty for Koreans as Korea, the 13th state in the GDP and the 10th in the production of greenhouse gas, will be no more a developing country in 2013.
In the Presidential congratulatory address on August 15, 2008, "low-carbon, green growth" was presented as the new 60-year vision axis and the "general basic plan to cope with climate changes" was promoted to be established. As a part of the project including discover and systematic, integrated promotion of business related to low-carbon, green growth, education and practicing centered on experiences for elementary, middle, and high school students are being intensified in order to realize the policies, and environment-friendly, green schools are being promoted in which the concept of low-carbon, green growth is reflected in the elementary and middle curricula for its understanding and practicing in order to present education to cope with climate changes.
In this context, the purpose of this study is to analyze practice cases of environment-friendly, green elementary schools in elementary schools, to discover problems, and to present improvement plans.
The results of this study are as follows.
First, programs for practicing by schools in order to realize environment-friendly, green schools are being variously established, but it is needed to introduce various, in-depth subject activities, experience activities, teachers' training, and development of curriculum and textbooks on green growth in which environment preservation and environment and economic growth are connected in the existing environment education, for perceiving severeness of global crises and enhancing wills and attitudes on life for green growth.
Second, as awareness of green growth is enhanced, students realized importance of resources and underwent various activities to conserve energy and resources. However, activities connected with families and community network are needed. Schools should serve as centers for green growth of communities and it is required to prepare continuous cooperation with community experts and related agencies.
Third, because mind and will to practice of teachers are important above all for success of green schools, long-term, compulsory training programs are needed to realize them. Competence of teachers to teach students on green growth should be enhanced via various online or experience-centered training.
Fourth, it is needed to institutional facilities to present various professional and practicable education on green growth by promoting and generalizing the cases of practicing and managing of designated green schools for a long term.
Green growth education that preserve our environment and realize economic growth and development in environmental crisis such as global warming and climate changes should be educated in schools. For doing this, application of programs for environment-friendly, green schools can be essential in accurate understanding of the concept and, establishing values on green growth, and enhancing ability to practice of students.