250 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
- Teacher’s attitude
The teacher should have an encouraging attitude, never an “I have been through all
this before” attitude. The teacher and pupils should work co-operatively together in a spirit
of shared research. Environment survey ought not to be a one-man job. The entire staff on
a continuing basis should carry it on co-operatively, year after year. The pupils and the
teachers can approach local experts, old residents and social workers by collecting data.
Various types of important persons can be interviewed; places of interest can be visited.
- Resources
The resources, uncovered in the survey, should be grouped in a logical way such as local
industries, places of historical interest, governmental agencies, civic establishments, places
of geographic importance, - persons to interview, persons of cultural significance and similar
categories.
- School camping
The drift to cities and the rapid tempo of modern living is creating a need for developing
a closer relationship between human beings and natural resources. Called a classroom in
the woods, the camp is a part of the larger Environment. The outdoor environment, in and
around the camp, offers tremendous possibilities for true education. The opportunities to
learn, work and play amidst the natural resources of the area stimulate interest and concern
for the protection and wise use of the natural resources of the Environment.
Advantages of School Camping
- Learning by doing
School camping encourages direct learning experiences and has potential life-situations
that are conducive to the most effective teaching methods, through learning by doing, seeing,
hearing, testing, smelling and feeling with a minimum of answers given by teachers and
resource leaders.
- Miniature environment
The school camp is a miniature Environment with the campers and teachers as citizens.
Many of the problems, faced by the Environment are inherent in the camp social as the
handling, preparation and eating of food, sanitation, sewage disposal, housing health habits;
social and cultural differences and the process of representative government.
- Democratic group life
Camping experience, is democratic group living, which proves useful in inculcating
good qualities in the pupils. It enables the pupils to understand the physical environment
and to use natural resources wisely. It provides additional real situations including work-
experiences, where may be applied many of the ski1I and attitudes developed in the classroom.
- Duration and types
Duration of the camping will depend upon the age of the pupils. Camping can be taken
during school time for a one-week period, two weeks or a longer period. Similarly, the types
and patterns of camping will vary according to the .age of the pupils. Appropriate activities
can be taken up by the campers depicting the, folklore and history of the area, Indian life,
transportation, correction of soil erosion, excavation of relics, etc.