Live what you teach teach what you live: student views on the acceptability of teachersʼ value-related statements about sustainability and climate change

摘要

This paper presents the results of a survey among pre-service and inserviceudstudents of pre-school education and students of environmentaludsciences on the acceptability of value-laden statements made by theirudteachers on issues of sustainable development and climate change. Fifteenudstatements were provided, and students had to choose among theudoptions »acceptable statement«, »unacceptable statement« and »cannotuddecide«. The questionnaire was completed by 139 students fromudtwo universities in Slovenia. The results show that the students expectudtheir teachers to promote the principles of sustainable development.udThe majority of students considered any teacher’s statement that wouldudcast doubt on the cause or the necessity to act against climate changeudto be unacceptable. Teacher’s statements emphasising global issues thatudhave, or could have, a direct impact on developed countries (e.g. climateudchange) received higher support than those global questions that moreudheavily impact underdeveloped or developing countries (e.g. poverty,udchild labour, access to natural resources). In the conclusion, it is emphasisedudthat teachers should assist students in developing their own moraludpositions on complex issues such as sustainable development and climateudchange. Structured discussion techniques, such as a panel discussion,udforum and debate, should be regularly and carefully implementedudinto lectures at the university level.