Die stigting van 'n omgewingsopvoedingsklub vir 'n histories agtergeblewe gemeenskap : 'n gevallestudie in die Roodewal-area (Worcester)

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT:Environmental deterioration is increasing, thereby compelling greater human concern for theearth's natural resources. A necessary response might be the establishment of anenvironmental ethic through the development of effective goal-orientated projects which cansupport the old adage or phrase saying, prevention is better than cure. Formal education canplay an important role in the development of a critical consciousness amongst learners.However, this endeavour requires adjustments in teaching methods and techniques.My study - which focuses on the establishment of an environmental ethic within learners andthe community, by starting an environmental club - is an attempt to respond to this challenge.Action-research, a research method which responds to the positive impulses of environmentaleducation, was a research method used in this study to reflect critically on the quality of theenvironment in which we are living.Initially my study concentrated on learners and members from a historically disadvantagedcommunity. Critical reflection on the first phase of my project revealed that the positionadopted by me as a research-worker, was positivistic. A lack of perseverance in performingthe grass-root actions, especially where it concerned me as researcher during the first phase,caused my efforts to establish an environmental club to fail.The opportunity to work with learners who really attempted to establish a better environmentthrough involvement in simple projects, was implemented with greater enthusiasm in thesecond phase of the project.Although the predominant socio-economic conditions in the community involved in theproject affected the environmental projects, this study serves as a case study which can givedirection to similar studies conducted in the future.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University