Secondary Education Mathematics, Indiana Area School District, Indiana, PA

Best Practices in Climate Change Education

Thanks so much to the schools and educators who have welcomed me into their classes here in Greece.  My research focuses on best practices, and this means I have had the opportunity to meet some incredible educators, who have prioritized providing their students with the tools they will need to manage a changing climate. 

Observing incredible teachers

Special thanks to schools in Athens, the First Secondary School of Alimos, where Fulbright Alum Ilianna Anagnostakou welcomed me and my Fulbright colleague Julia Puckett into her classes, where students peppered us with questions about life and school in America. Also, thanks to the director of the 1st Primary School of Nikaia, and my friend Photis Mylonas, who I met last summer in Skyros, who helped me understand the challenges and opportunities facing schools in Greece.  I also had a great introduction to environmental education programs available to teachers. First in Thessaloniki, hosted by Geoge Ylfantis, George Slafkidis, and then in the nearby hills of Livadi, hosted by Loukia Lithoxoidou, Aristidis Konstantinidis and Alexandros Oikonomidis. These veteran educators staff Environmental Education Centers, which bring classes in for day long workshops for students of all grades to learn about climate change, and how they can take action. These are incredibly fun, interactive lessons that have students up, and moving around the room. The idea here is not just to impart information to students, but rather to empower them to be leaders, and take action in their world.

Student Focus Groups

Thank you to another Fulbright Alum, Vasso Michailidou, an English and music teacher, at the 3rd Junior High School of Thessaloniki, and Nikos Galena at the 2nd High School of Peraia, who helped me organize focus groups of students involved in environmental clubs. I enjoyed presenting to several of their classes throughout the day. It was great to be in a classroom again, the students were actively engaged, asking all sorts of really smart questions, like, What about the jobs lost when we transition? What about nuclear power? Does everyone in America have a gun? Focus groups students said that they learn about climate change, and actions to help in their communities, their schools, and in their families. From international programs such as Erasmus, and eTwinning, to lessons on energy consumption in their classes, to grassroots community groups organizing for local clean-ups, to parents teaching about recycling and waste management, these kids demonstrated a firm understanding of the challenges in their future. Students were generally skeptical that current Greek leaders would make much of a difference, but were optimistic for their own generation.

Policy Makers - Policy Implementers

The Greek educational system is like a lot of EU countries, with centralized decision makers who make choices on curriculum that are implemented locally by many of the folks I've met so far. This model is different from most places in the U.S., where local school boards have significant leeway in determining curricular priorities. Since the central government has made environmental education, and climate change education a priority, there seem to be many opportunities for teachers and students to be engaged in conversation, and actions around sustainability. This centralized model is repeated in governance, with local municipal leaders also being asked to focus on sustainability, and actions related to climate change. This is notable across Greece, where the public recycling infrastructure is everywhere. While the integrity of these programs are not always as they were likely drawn up, the commitment is clear based on available funding. Addressing climate change is a real priority for Greek policy makers, and folks are committed to attracting these funds designed to create a sustainable future.