‘Climate change our biggest education issue,’ says PETAA

Despite reading and writing standards slipping in the classroom, a peak group of English teachers say climate change is what will shape the future of education.

ACTIVIST English teachers think climate change is the biggest issue for education, despite sliding standards in reading and writing.

“The immediate threat of climate change’’ is the most important economic, social or technological change shaping the future of education, the Primary English Teaching Association of Australia (PETAA) has told a government inquiry.

“Its social and economic impact requires informed, rational and articulate citizenship and leadership if our country and planet are to survive intact,’’ the association says. “Our education system must produce logical thinkers and communicators who are able to engage with the world in productive ways … without resort to panic and fear.’’

The climate rally in Brisbane. Picture: AAP/Dan Peled

Thousands of Queensland students skipped school on Friday to join the “climate strike’’, protesting against coal mining and global warming.

The climate-change activism in schools coincides with a decline in high school students’ writing skills, with Year 7 and Year 9 students falling backwards in NAPLAN literacy tests over the past decade.

Federal Education Minister Dan Tehan yesterday said the Federal Government “will continue to have a razor-sharp focus on literacy and numeracy as the foundation of all students’ education’’.

As students grapple with the basics of writing, spelling and grammar, English teachers have told the government inquiry into Australia’s educational priorities that kids should learn to “critically analyse’’ advertising.

PETAA president Robyn Cox yesterday said that “young kids are taking climate change really seriously and we need to recognise that’’.

“Climate change and climate denying could be a central issue (for education).’’