Patrick Kirwan is a Science and Biology Teacher in Ardscoil Na Mara secondary school in Tramore in Ireland. He is also the director of the Irish Schools Sustainability Network that supports teachers and students to build confidence and inspire climate and Biodiversity action in school.
In this TALK, Patrick reminds us that we need indeed to win hearts and minds, and that it is important for him to provide emotional support to the students and teachers communities.
But he also shows how there is often a great distance between the political-administrative level which decides on guidelines, and the classroom where the activities in line with these guidelines will be applied. Sometimes too great.
Patrick insists that teachers need practical support and concrete resources, particularly financial resources, to give them the means to realise ambitions that might otherwise go unfulfilled. From him, mandatory training on sustainability for teachers and school leaders are also part of the solution.
Questions
01:20 Can you share with us your journey into sustainable education? Why did you chose to follow that path? (how did you get here?)
05:00 Can you explain what are your concrete activities (chose the one you retain the most appropriate/telling)?
10:50 Based on your experience, what challenges have you faced and how have you managed to overcome them? In your opinion, what are the main factors and criteria for success in terms of education for the green transition?
More information
Official website of the Irish Schools Sustainability Network (issn.ie)
A video about the different actions the Ardscoil na Mara school in Ireland is making to promote education for sustainable development: Learning for sustainability as a whole-school mission / Practice video - YouTube
Are you interested to watch previous episodes? Check the Education for Climate TALK
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