Climate change: The thief of childhood

Abstract

As predictions about the effects of climate change have become more urgent, Stuart Grauer has wondered how much to bring this information into the curriculum at his school. Would learning about the possibly disastrous effects of climate change cultivate a sense of despair in students and ruin their childhoods? When working with students in the Andes and observing the work of climate activists, Grauer came to believe that teaching students about climate change could actually reduce the sense of powerlessness that leads many to experience anxiety and depression. Helping students understand the risks ahead of them enables them to take action, and taking action can promote improved mental health. As a result of this realization, Grauer has made environmentalism and activism important parts of the curriculum.