[Student Voices] A Radiant Shade of Blue
Hyeonmu Ji (Incheon Yesong Middle School, Grade 3)
by Hyeonmu Ji (Incheon Yesong Middle School, Grade 3)
Last spring, as I was engaged in a school campaign for Earth Day, passionately waving banners along the road to school, the words of a passing student struck me deeply. “Why bother with these meaningless campaigns? Environment, environment, environment... Aren't you tired of it? What difference does it make to turn off the lights for 10 minutes?”
In that moment, all the efforts I had dedicated to our planet were dismissed. It was disheartening to encounter such apathy towards the climate crisis. Initially, I tried to view it as just one person’s opinion. I tried to move on. However, as time passed and I engaged in more discussions with friends about the environment, a troubling reality became clear: most students remain indifferent to the worsening environmental issues.
This indifference can be found among those who waste food in the cafeteria without a second thought. It can be found in those who carelessly leave the lights on after class. And it can be found on the backs of students who eagerly follow the trend of fast fashion, wearing clothes once or twice and then never again.
A recent survey conducted by SAVE, the ecological club I belong to at school, painted a disturbing picture. When 105 students were asked, “Have you ever participated in activities related to solving environmental issues?” more than 18% of students responded with a definitive “No.” Moreover, 35% admitted to participating only once or twice, indicating that the majority of students have little to no involvement in helping the planet.
Too many of us fail to grasp the magnitude of the environmental catastrophe looming over humanity. The horrifying consequences, like droughts and forest fires, that unfold with every one-degree rise in global temperature. The agony of becoming environmental refugees, losing homes to rising sea levels. While many in Korea have some awareness of these issues, it’s easy to brush them off as something that doesn’t concern us directly (yet).
In the era of climate disasters, what we need is compulsory environmental education. According to the Korean Ministry of Environment, as of 2021 only 6.9% of middle schools and 24.1% of high schools offered environmental education courses, amounting to only 14.1% of all middle and high schools. This is not good enough. Similar to core subjects like Korean, math, and English, environmental education should be scheduled weekly in all schools. The form of education needs to evolve as well. Approaching environmental education theoretically—by merely watching a video or reading an article—will not make a deep connection with students. Active learning experiences where students engage directly with the environment are far more effective.
As a prime example, our Yesong Middle School has been working on a school forest project for the past year. This is the optimal space for environmental education. Through activities like observing the forest’s plant life and caring for vegetable gardens, students can cultivate a genuine love for the natural world. Moreover, beyond the school walls, activities such as protecting the street trees or participating in “plogging” walks (picking up litter while walking), can not only enrich school environmental education but also contribute to the local community.
Spring is here once again. Another Earth Day is fast approaching. This year, as in years past, our SAVE club will take small yet meaningful steps for our planet. And this year, we hope we won’t be alone. It would be wonderful if schools took the initiative to lead proper environmental education. When schools and students join forces to support the environment, our one and only Earth will regain its radiant shade of blue.
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
To write comments, please log in to one of the accounts.
Standards Board Policy (0/250자)