Social Studies Teacher Candidates’ Views on Environmental Justice

Abstract

Environmental justice, which is related to the concept of social justice; It can be defined as the equal protection of everyone from harmful environmental influences, regardless of their age, culture, ethnicity, gender and race. Therefore, the right to live in a safe and healthy environment is the main emphasis of environmental justice. In addition, the participation of citizens in the decisions to be taken on environmental issues and taking into account their concerns about the environment are important aspects of the concept of environmental justice. The focus of the social studies course on daily life, its geographical, human and social analysis of environmental issues and its aim of citizenship education carry this course to an important place in gaining the understanding of environmental justice to individuals. For this reason, social studies teachers are expected to be aware of the concept of environmental justice and to carry out activities that can improve this concept in their students. The aim of this research is to determine the environmental justice views of social studies teacher candidates. The data of this study, which was carried out in the basic qualitative research design, were obtained through semi-structured interviews. The data were analyzed inductively. It is seen that social studies teacher candidates define environmental justice as fair distribution of resources, protection of natural resources and animals, high quality of life and being equidistant from dangers. Pre-service teachers who stated that environmental justice education will raise conscious and environmentally friendly individuals think that this concept is directly related to social studies. In line with the results of the study, pre-service teachers suggest placing the concept of environmental justice in the social studies curriculum and creating examples of activities that teachers can benefit from in line with this concept.

Opinions of Social Studies Teachers on Environmental Education Through Social Studies Curriculum and Textbooks

“…It is also similar to constructivist education approach and applied education regarding the education of pre-service teachers carried out by Aladejebi (2020). In addition, in the research conducted by Bursa (2022), it was concluded that applied education and sightseeing tours affect the development of environmental justice, and in the study conducted by Arisandi & Faisal (2021), collaborative and activity-based education provides significant contributions in raising ecological awareness. In addition, in the research conducted by Bursa (2022), it was concluded that applied education and sightseeing tours affect the development of environmental justice, and in the study conducted by Arisandi & Faisal (2021), collaborative and activity-based education provides significant contributions in raising ecological awareness.…”

“…When the literature on environmental education in social studies is examined, the following studies are found: Myers and Stitely's (1973) on environmental issues in social studies student materials, Adara's (1996) on environmental education strategies in social studies, Adedayo and Olawepo's (1997) on integration of environmental education into social sciences at secondary school level, Ergin's (2011) on the role of social studies in the development of environmental awareness, Karakuş, Palaz, Kılcan et al Çepni's (2012) on the use of cartoons in the teaching of environmental problems in social studies, Edinyang, Eneji, Tijani and Dunnamah's (2013) on the role of environmental education and social studies in creating an environmental-friendly society, Kodan and Bozdemir's (2014) on the contribution of science and social studies course outcomes and activities to environmental education, Öztürk and Zayimoğlu Öztürk's (2016) on the evaluation of social sciences curriculum in terms of environmental education, Fidan and Ay's (2016) on operational environmental literacy in social studies course, Çoban and Temir's (2018) on environmental education in social studies textbooks, and Apaydın Timur's (2020) on environmental education qualifications of social studies teachers, Itasanmi's (2020) on secondary school teachers' awareness and attitudes of social studies teachers towards environmental education, Iyunade & Olubela's (2020) on environmental sustainability and the relevant roles of social studies educators, Aladejebi's (2020) on environmental education in Nigerian Social Studies teacher training program, Bayram's (2021) on social studies course and environmental education, Arisandi & Faisal's (2021) on the use of cooperative learning in environmental education and its relationship with social studies, Kaya, Gökdemir and Yazıcı's (2021) on environmental education self-efficacy of social studies pre-service teachers, Bursa's (2022) on the views of social studies pre-service teachers about environmental justice. Although all these studies above were found in literature, no study has been found regarding the views of the social studies teachers on the environmental education in social sciences curriculum and textbooks.…”