trend of environmental education in canadian pre-service teacher education programs from 1979 to 1996

abstract

despite being recognized as a major priority for research and action in many major international conferences, environmental education (ee) research in pre-service programs has been given little attention in canada. the only systematic national evaluation of ee at the teacher preparation level in canada was conducted by john towler (1980-81), nearly 20 years ago. a national survey using a modified version of towler's questionnaire was distributed to all pre-service teacher training institutions across the canadian provinces to determine the current status of ee which pre-service teachers receive in their preparation programs. the survey findings revealed that, for nearly two decades, the number of canadian teacher preparation institutions offering ee courses to pre-service teachers has remained generally low and the level of priority granted nominal.