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COMMENTS ON THE Eurocurriculum, a curriculum based on
the principle 3. I was deeply impressed by the materials you had sent me, and I am sure
that this kind of idea would also work in Japanese classrooms, I am sure that
your systematic idea will help Japanese teachers in terms how they should
teach topics and items in the extremely wide Geography curriculum in Japan. 8. The global approach about social, economic and ecological issues is of
great interest so much the more as it is linked with the teaching of values
and action taking. This idea seems to be accepted in all educational european
approaches about environment. 9. On the other hand, „future-related thinking", combined with
"undogmatic" one, could vitally complete the evaluation of human
activities in the past and in the close relation to Nature and Urban
Environment. Tolerance, humanity and Democracy are values wisely set on top
of your Fig. 1 It is certain that your creative thinking, but also your vivid
activation, will decisevely contribute to the sure success of the bigger part
of the Eco-environmental Education programmes 10. I would like in particular to congratulate you for your efforts in
disseminating the message that a key to sustainable development lies in the
full integration of economic and environmental policies and that utmost
efforts should be made to identify and eliminate more subsidies, taxes or
other market interventions that distort the use of environmental resources. 12. Your material forwarded to Minister Harach was delivered just in the period of elaboration of the National Programme of Education and Training. The presented curriculum of yours was an excellent study material for our experts. The work on the Programme was accomplished only at the beginning of September and the definite Project was presented at the First National Conference of teachers in Bratislava. Valuable suggestions found in your material were incorporated into our NPET, namely into the part on environmental education. Ministersvo Skoltva a Vedy, Slovenskej Republiky,
Vice-Minister Emil Komárik, Bratislava, 7.10.94 15. Congratulations on your curriculum plan, which integrates ecological, economic, and social Threads - as they are integrated in the real world. Those of us who work for sustainable development understand the importance of economic incentives and social policies in management of natural resources. Your educational materials take a realistic approach, which should be encouraged in the school systems. When these disciplines are isolated, the result is often environmental degradation. World Resources Institute (WRI), Mary Paden, Environmental Education Director, Washington D.C., 7.11.94 17. The curriculum describe an interesting dimension regarding teaching of geography. It’s a dimension we, for the moment in Denmark, look upon with special attention. At present we are creating a new curriculum for geography. And particular geography describes a possibility concerning engagement, independent attitudes and responsibility regarding problems of utilization of nature, resources and the human created world and the consequences of the environment and conditions of life. Ministry of Education and Research, Department of Primary and Lower Secondary Education, Kopenhagen, 22.11.94 22. Telemark College has offered interdisciplinary studies in environment
for 18 years, and in the process of curriculum development we have worked to
resolve some of the same difficult issues that the German Union of Teachers
of geography are attempting to resolve in their proposal. Some of the most
central issues are: The work of the German geography teachers union is extremely important, and should be followed up and developed further. Department of Economics, Environment and
Sports, Telemark College, 23. In the first place I think you have developed a very well structure for taking environmental issues in the geography curriculum. My main problem is that you only focus on the the matter, the subjects. In Holland we realize that the roles of the teacher, the didactics and the pedagogical setting are at leat as important as the subjects. beside the curriculum you have to pay attention on the things the teacher has to do in the classroom with his pupils... I see a lot of connections between your ideas and the developments in Holland, perhaps more communication and more contact will be useful. You started an initiative of which I hope it will be continued. Allgemeen Pedagogisch Studiecentrum, Henk
Lindemann, Utrecht, 12.1.95, im Auftrag des Minister of Housing, Planning and
Environment 24. Your strategy for promoting the concepts and actions on sustainable
development are very thorough and comprehensive and I would like to commend
you on its development. I have no particular suggestions as to the content
which in any case, can be refined through implemen-tation and testing. 25. However, I believe that education plays a vital role in equipping
people with the necessary skills, behaviour, attitudes and awareness, which
are essential in order to achieve sustainable development. It certainly also
plays an important role in maintaining human capital. In this respect, the
work on the Eurocurriculum is very important and forms a sound basis for
future work. These comments are my own personal views and should therefore
not be 26. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to review the
Euro-curriculum.I admire the initiative of your organization in creating it.
Education for sustainable development (ESD) will advance more quickly with
brave souls, such as those in the Union of German Teachers of Geography, who
are willing to invest time and energy in creating new frameworks and
materials for the education community to review and ponder. Dear Mr Gross,
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