Las concepciones sobre educación ambiental de los profesores del curso de agropecuaria de la Escuela Agrotécnica Federal de San Luis-MA

Abstract

Rapid environmental changes that are due to rampant of different human activities constitute a continuing threat to biodiversity and may be related to the level of understanding and awareness of society with regard to environmental issues. The Federal Agrotechnical School of São Luis (Escola Agrotécnica Federal de São Luis – EAFS-MA) faces a major problem in deforested areas, without solving or seeking alternatives to solve this problem, giving rise to many concerns. In that sense, this research aimed to understand the different conceptions of environmental education for teachers in the Agriculture Course at EAFSL-MA, but also have knowledge about their environmental practices in the classroom. The research methodology is qualitative, working with descriptions and interpretations, using instruments such as: semistructured interviews and documentary analysis. Such research was performed with 35 teachers from the Agriculture Course who represent the universe. The results showed that the concept of environmental education set by teachers is still basically conservative and traditional with a completely naturalistic view, relating to environmental education only natural aspects. This is due to the limited training they received throughout the history of technical education in Brazil, which focuses more on the formation of "the professional teacher " instead of the reflective and critic teacher. The teaching practice, based on the teachers’ environmental problems that increasingly complicate the quality of life in cities and also stimulates an increased awareness centered in the sustainable development.