1. School to home transfer Investigating School to Home Transfer: some issues from environmental education practice and theory

2. Overview A current issue Review findings Own conclusions Future directions

3. motivating over 6,000 families to make over 10,000 environmental changesfamilies http://ecochildsplay.com/2008/09/24/ %e2%80%9ctoo-cool-for- school%e2%80%9d-enrichment- programs-activate-youth/#more-1692

4. Why? Marketers know that KIDS influence parents, were just taking the same dynamic and applying it to global warming, http://ecochildsplay.com/2008/09/24/%e2%80%9ctoo-cool-for- school%e2%80%9d-enrichment-programs-activate-youth/ Adult generations have the power to affect change: yeah, yeah, they should really because when you are a little kid you dont really, even if you dont understand it you wont be able to do much because it is more kind of your parents that … so you kind of have to persuade your parents to do it to actually make a big change

5. Why not? … using children has got obvious appeal as a campaign tactic. After all, they make natural campaigners - no shades of grey, no nuanced arguments, just loads of passion and clarity… http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2007/feb/01/schools.ethicalliving In his book, Russell tries to stir up hatred against Groans (grown- ups) and their wasteful ways, and encourages children to become Guardians of the Glorious Green Future, nagging until their parents sign a Glorious Green Charter http://www.spiked- online.com/index.php …prerequisites for those people that turn youngsters into child soldiers and suicide bombers; it all boils down to the ease with which they can be indoctrinated and manipulated

6. Research Nine papers spanning 2 decades (1992 to 2008) researched in both the developed (Europe, Australia, USA and Canada) and the developing (Costa Rica and Mexico) world Intervention Pre and post test (often) Control group (often) Local focus Limited potential for transfer leading to superficial behaviour changes or increased awareness (ESD 1)

7. Sutherland and Ham, 1992 Ethnographic case study in Costa Rica pre and post interviews & family observations Little or no deliberate transfer …programs that consider adults as audiences should not rely on children as messengers since the transfer is not dependable or reliable Simple behaviour change (financial savings) Parents stifle communication from children Empowering children Upsetting power relations inadvertent transfer It probably already happens

8. Uzzell, 1994, 1999 Action competence and experiential learning Large study involving 4 programmes in 4 European countries Limited transfer observed in 3 programmes Portugal – importance of political context – improvement in socio-political status from environmental exploitation Uzzell concludes that:

9. EFFECTIVE WHEN Two-way communication and dialogue occurs The environment is already a topic of conversation and something about which the parents have a pre-existing concern The parent willingly acknowledges the expert status of the child BUT Method can raise concern amongst children about minority status Poor self esteem and negative attitudes towards education are barriers Current models of schooling do not encourage it

10. Model 2: local communities invited into the school (1) Dealing with actual environmental problems (2) Breaking down barriers between school and local community: environmental education carried out in local communities. (3) Action-oriented: the development of action possibilities. Local Community School

11. Model 3: the school as a guest in the local community. (1) Dealing with actual environmental problems. (2) Breaking down barriers between school and local community: environmental education carried out in local communities. (3) Action-oriented: the development of action possibilities. Local Community School

12. Model 4: the school as social agent (Dialogue model). (1) Dealing with actual environmental problems (2) Breaking down barriers between school and local community: environmental education carried out in local communities; students active in community in school time (3) Action- oriented: the development of action possibilities; concrete actions in the local community, both direct (e.g. waste, traffic, etc.) and indirect (influencing others, e.g. parents, politicians, planners Local Community School SolutionSolution

13. Ballantyne et al (2001) Involving parents in homework activities and preparation of presentations to peers about A local focus enhances the effectiveness of school to home transfer Involving local community members Emotional engagement with the issues (including enjoyment) Enthusiasm and engagement of teachers

14. Vaughen et al (1999) Scarlet Macaw population in Costa Rica Multiple choice pre- and posttest Involved follow-up post test 8 months later Programme designed to involve parents in homework activities (cf Ballantyne et al) Evidence of community learning: parental control group displayed significantly improved results in the 2 nd posttest

15. Schneller (2008) Longitudinal study in Mexico Lateral learning (peer tutoring) 10 of 11 students reported change in behaviour of family 14 of 21 students reported change in behaviour of family Reported impact of programmes appear highly effective at producing behaviour change It has been positive because the things that she is learning in the class she is bringing home to us BUT Sea turtles bring tourism Garbage affects well-being

16. My research Qualitative Exploratory approach (no intervention) Research internet administered surveys to parents and students (structured) student mediated interviews of students (semi-structured)

17. Strands family discussions about school work family involvement with sustainability and environmental issues perception of childrens ability to teach parents within the family reactions to the concept of positive pester power and local perspectives in teaching at the school usefulness of the above in eliciting behavioural changes and learning within families

18. Findings Children at this institution can teach their parents and can influence their parents commitment to sustainability school to home transfer is not necessarily enhanced by a local focus here although positive pester power might be an effective way of encouraging pro-environmental behaviour, the children interviewed at this school are not enthusiastic about engaging in it there is little or no reported evidence of learning spreading into the community as a result of school to home transfer

19. Incidental findings …it means that they know that paying for my education is paying off! Siblings because its like, wow! I taught them something The decision to discuss topics with parents should be left up to the child Polar bears dying or really cool stuff Parental influence on child

20. Future directions Nudge not noodge (Thaler and Sunstein, 2008) Multi-directional; multi-generational Internet fora and discussion groups ECM and Sustainable School Initiative Impact of prior engagement ESD 2 ( ESD 1?)

21. Model 4: the school as social agent (Dialogue model). (1) Dealing with actual environmental problems (2) Breaking down barriers between school and local community: environmental education carried out in local communities; students active in community in school time (3) Action- oriented: the development of action possibilities; concrete actions in the local community, both direct (e.g. waste, traffic, etc.) and indirect (influencing others, e.g. parents, politicians, planners Local Community School SolutionSolution

22. References Ballantyne, Roy, Connell, Sharon and Fien, John (1998) 'Students as Catalysts of Environmental Change: a framework for researching intergenerational influence through environmental education', Environmental Education Research, 4:3, 285 – 298 Ballantyne, Roy, Fien, John and Packer, Jan (2001) 'School Environmental Education Programme Impacts upon Student and Family Learning: a case study analysis', Environmental Education Research, 7:1, 23 - 37

23. Duvall, J & Zint, M (2007) A Review of Research on the Effectiveness of Environmental Education in Promoting Intergenerational Learning in The Journal of Environmental Education 38: 4, 14-24 Leeming, F.C., Porter, B.E., Dwyer, W.O., Cobern, M.K., & Oliver, D.P. (1997) Effects of participation in class activities on children's environmental attitudes and knowledge. Journal of Environmental Education, 28, 33-42. Legault, L., & Pelletier, L. (2000). Impact of an environmental education programme on students and parents attitudes, motivation, and behaviours. Canadian Journal of Behavioural Science, 32, 243–250.

24. Sutherland, D., & Ham, S. (1992). Child-to-parent transfer of environmental ideology in Costa Rican families: An ethnographic case study. The Journal of Environmental Education, 23:3, 9-16 Schneller, A. J. (2008) 'Environmental service learning: outcomes of innovative pedagogy in Baja California Sur, Mexico', Environmental Education Research, 14(3):291 307 Uzzell, David (1999) 'Education for Environmental Action in the Community: new roles and relationships', Cambridge Journal of Education, 29:3, 397 – 413 Vaughan, C., Gack, J., Solorazano, H., & Ray, R. (1999). The effect of environmental education on schoolchildren, the parents, and community members: A study of intergenerational and intercommunity learning. Journal of Environmental Education, 34(3), 12–21