Emergence of Sustainability Education
The Canadian Context
In Canada, a timeline tracing the development of sustainability education is harder to develop since provinces are individually responsible for formal education, and sustainability education is applied in a variety of contexts including public schools, universities, museums, parks, and summer camps, among others. Some of the key international events highlighted in the previous timeline have of course shaped sustainability education in Canada as well.Although recent developments in education for sustainable development and sustainability education have worked their way into education systems in Canada, the term environmental education is still most commonly used. The concept of environmental education now also includes aspects of sustainability. A few key national events in the history of environmental education are:
The uptake of environmental education varies from province to province and within school boards. Curriculum revisions do not all occur at the same time, meaning integration of environmental education is staggered as well.
- mid-1980s: Environmental education becomes more of a common experience in schooling throughout the country.
- 1992: National Round Table on the Environment and Economy discussed eight elements of environmental education to be emphasized, including curriculum design and student projects.
- 1993: Canadian Network for Environmental Education and Communication (EECOM) was established
- 1996: Canadian Journal of Environmental Education was founded
Developments in Ontario
In Ontario, implementation of environmental education began in the 1970s.The term environmental education continues to be most frequently used in formal education in Ontario.
- 1973: Ontario Ministry of Education (OME) introduced environmental science courses into curriculum.
- 1988-2000: A high school elective course, Environmental Science, was available for students to take. Ecological concepts and topics were also integrated across science and geography courses. With a shift in the political climate in the 1990s, the elective course was removed in 2000 and major curriculum reforms did not support inclusion of EE in Ontario curricula.
- 2007: Many educator groups such as EECOM and Environmental Education Ontario, among others, called for a more focused approach to environmental education. A Working Group on environmental education was formed and a report entitled, Shaping our Schools, Shaping our Future, was published. This report for the OME included a list of recommendations to improve environmental education in Ontario schools. Environmental education is the terminology used in Ontario and is seen as the umbrella term that incorporates education for sustainability and outdoor education.
- 2009: OME published Acting Today, Shaping Tomorrow: A Policy Framework for Environmental Education in Ontario Schools, which describes a framework for environmental education that
- a) is locally relevant and culturally appropriate;
- b) develops understanding of the provincial, national, and global impact of local issues;
- c) encourages community-based environmental decision making and stewardship; and
- d) supports lifelong learning.
- 2017: OME developed two resource documents titled Environmental Education Scope and Sequence of Expectations, the documents are organized by Grades 1-8 and The Kindergarten Program and Grades 9-12. The resources aim to help teachers plan lessons that integrate environmental education with other subject areas. They identify curriculum expectations and related examples and prompts in disciplines across the Ontario curriculum that provide opportunities for student learning “in, about, and/or for” the environment.