Education for Sustainable development

School Management

Engaging with the Broader Community: The Local Aspect

Understanding the local community’s role in decision-making and actions concerning sustainable development fosters both Environmental and Sustainable Development (ESD) learning and civic consciousness.

Opportunities for Schools:

• Organise field trips for students to local enterprises, charitable organisations, elderly care centres, or cultural hubs.
• Host discussions or interviews with representatives from local entities or advocacy groups, which can shed light on multiple curriculum areas.

Potential questions for these sessions can include:

• The roles of the attendees.
• The environmental, societal, and economic outcomes of their respective organisations.
• The decision-making process.
• The extent of influence those impacted by these decisions have on the outcomes.
• Ways students can back the endeavours of these organisations or sway decisions.

Schools can also act as enablers for local sustainable initiatives. For instance:

• Facilitating evening use of school facilities and computers for local library services to minimise commuting.
• Serving as a collection point for local vegetable delivery schemes.
• Engaging in a Local Exchange Trading System (LETS) – like seeking community assistance for grounds maintenance in exchange for offering space for Permaculture classes.
• In communities with specific cultural demographics, like Bengali, schools can collaborate with organisations like the Workers Education Authority to provide classes, such as organic farming, tailored to that demographic.
• Hosting booths for local sustainable development advocates at school events.

Engaging with Local Authorities:

The Agenda 21 initiative highlighted that a major portion of sustainable development strategies need local implementation. Consequently, most local and district councils have Local Agenda 21 plans that pinpoint sustainable development priorities in the vicinity.

Potential Collaborations for Schools:

• Aid in tracking local sustainable development indicators, as some councils may have established benchmarks to assess local sustainability efforts.
• Use local indicators as a foundation to shape school-based sustainability markers.

Resources and Support:

Local council support for sustainability-focused education varies. While some have intricate plans for schools, others are receptive to addressing specific local challenges upon request.

Officials overseeing sustainable development could be part of various departments, including Agenda 21, Best Practice, and Planning, among others. Other sections, such as Architecture, Parks, or Energy, might also be interested in collaborating on local sustainable projects.

Numerous local councils have online portals. Websites like the Local Government Association and Eco Schools offer pertinent information and resources. Community Service Volunteers Community Partners offer case studies and tools for schools to bolster community engagement.

Case Studies Insights:

This platform provides an array of case studies:

• General overviews of schools at varying ESD developmental stages and their community integration strategies.
• Specific case studies spotlighting community linkage, including topics such as Ecodesigns, Recycling and Rainforests, the impact of ESD in local and global settings, and explorations of local history in relation to ESD.