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Local and Global Aspects: Teaching Social Sustainability in Swedish Preschools

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  • Farhana Borg

    (School of Teacher Education, Dalarna University, Högskolegatan 2, 79188 Falun, Sweden)

  • Niklas Gericke

    (Department of Environmental and Life Sciences, Karlstad University, Universitetsgatan 2, 65188 Karlstad, Sweden)

Abstract

Although policy documents emphasize the importance of integrating social, economic, and environmental dimensions into education for sustainability (EfS), there is a lack of studies investigating how social sustainability can be included in preschool teaching. Therefore, this study aims to increase knowledge about preschool teachers’ teaching practices relating to social sustainability. This study uses EfS as a conceptual framework that includes a holistic view of sustainability addressing social, economic, and environmental aspects, as well as pluralistic teaching approach from a transformative perspective. To explore the views and teaching practices, individual interviews were conducted with 12 preschool teachers from eight preschools that took part in a school development project. The project included professional development workshops for teachers on EfS and local implementation efforts. Thematic content analysis was conducted. The interviews made it apparent that the teachers initially viewed sustainability from an environmental perspective; however, after involvement in the school development project, they began to integrate the social sustainability dimension into their teaching. The teachers associated local sustainability challenges with those faced internationally. To a certain extent, children’s agency was noted in pluralistic educational activities that supported children’s active participation. The level at which preschool teachers integrated social sustainability into their teaching varied.

Suggested Citation

  • Farhana Borg & Niklas Gericke, 2021. "Local and Global Aspects: Teaching Social Sustainability in Swedish Preschools," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(7), pages 1-17, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:7:p:3838-:d:527358
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Jelle Boeve-de Pauw & Niklas Gericke & Daniel Olsson & Teresa Berglund, 2015. "The Effectiveness of Education for Sustainable Development," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 7(11), pages 1-25, November.
    2. Maria Hedefalk & Jonas Almqvist & Malena Lidar, 2014. "Teaching for Action Competence," SAGE Open, , vol. 4(3), pages 21582440145, July.
    3. Efrat Eizenberg & Yosef Jabareen, 2017. "Social Sustainability: A New Conceptual Framework," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(1), pages 1-16, January.
    4. Muennig, P. & Robertson, D. & Johnson, G. & Campbell, F. & Pungello, E.P. & Neidell, M., 2011. "The effect of an early education program on adult health: The Carolina abecedarian project randomized controlled trial," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 101(3), pages 512-516.
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    1. Robert Lecusay & Anna Pauliina Rainio & Beth Ferholt, 2022. "Caring about and with Imaginary Characters: Early Childhood Playworlds as Sites for Social Sustainability," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(9), pages 1-17, May.
    2. Magdalena Raivio & Ellinor Skaremyr & Arniika Kuusisto, 2022. "Caring for Worldviews in Early Childhood Education: Theoretical and Analytical Tool for Socially Sustainable Communities of Care," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-16, March.

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