Title: Social representation of the way to interact with environment of the elementary school teachers of the Puebla's municipality (Mexico)

Authors: A. Fernandez-Crispin, J. Benayas-Del-Alamo, C. Barroso-Jerez

Addresses: Escuela de Biologia, Edificio 76, Avenida San Claudio S/N, Ciudad Universitaria, Colonia San Manuel, Puebla Pue. CP 72570, Mexico. ' Departamento de Ecologia, Universidad Autonoma de Madrid, Espana. ' Departamento de Historia y Filosofia de la Ciencia, Educacion y Lenguaje, Universidad de la Laguna, Espana

Abstract: This work describes the concept of environmental education and civilisation model transmitted by teachers in elementary schools at Puebla|s municipality. The analysis of this problem grounds on the theory of social representations within a structural approach. The research was carried out in four different phases: analysis of knowledge and environmental attitudes of elementary students; civilisation|s elements and educational models desired by elementary teachers; assessment of environmental education by teachers, considering the parameters defined by them; workshops conducted with teachers to determine their concept of progress. Results revealed that children and teachers have a general concern about environmental problems. This concern is based in few data. They have constructed a ||thematic language|| that allows them to talk superficially about the environmental problems.

Keywords: social representations; environmental attitudes; environmental knowledge; teachers; elementary education; civilisation; environmental education; Mexico.

DOI: 10.1504/IJESD.2005.007236

International Journal of Environment and Sustainable Development, 2005 Vol.4 No.2, pp.140 - 153

Published online: 26 Jun 2005 *

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