School Practices of Environmental Education in Tecate, Baja California

Abstract

The aim of the study is to analyze how practices of environmental education are incorporated in a public elementary school and a private one in Tecate, Baja California, as well as the effects they have on students’ environmental attitudes and behaviors through curricular environmentalization. The methodology consisted of semi-structured interviews with teachers and parents, and the integration of discussion groups with students. The results showed differences in the ways of incorporating these practices in the two schools; generally, attitudes and pro-environmental behaviors were similar in both schools, although their trajectories are different. As main findings are differences in organization, flexibility and educational method to integrate practices in schools. It follows that environmental attitudes and behaviors differ little in both schools, so it is necessary to develop more detailed techniques to analyze why this happens.