Teach the Future facts for kids
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| Named after | The 2nd UKSCN Demand |
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| Formation | 12 October 2019 |
| Type | Campaign |
| Purpose | Climate education and green school estate |
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Region
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UK - active all nations |
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Parent organization
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UK Student Climate Network, Students Organising for Sustainability UK, Fridays for Future Scotland, the National Union of Students Scotland, UKSCN Wales |
| Subsidiaries | Teach the Future England Teach the Future Scotland Teach the Future Wales Teach the Future NI |
| Website | https://www.teachthefuture.uk |
Teach the Future is a group led by young people. They want better education about climate change in schools across the UK. This includes England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Students from high school and college started this group. Their main goal is to make sure all students learn about climate and nature. This helps prepare them for future jobs that protect the environment.
Contents
How Teach the Future Started
2019: The Beginning
The idea for Teach the Future began in the summer of 2019. Young people met at a Friends of the Earth event at Keele University. They were upset because schools did not teach enough about climate change. The name "Teach the Future" came from ideas of the UK Student Climate Network. This network often worked with Teach the Future.
The campaign officially started on October 12, 2019. It was announced at a conference for education experts. Two days later, Teach the Future started a petition. A petition is a formal request signed by many people. Their petition asked for more climate education. Over 27,000 people signed it.
2020: Online Work and New Goals
From March to April 2020, the group paused its activities. This was because of the COVID-19 lockdown.
After this time, Teach the Future started working more online. They still use this online system a lot today. In May 2020, six new student helpers joined the team. They helped organize the campaign.
In June, Teach the Future began a new effort. They wanted education to recover from COVID in an environmentally friendly way. Teach the Future Scotland also launched in June 2020. They held an event outside the Scottish Parliament. They met with important leaders like John Swinney.
2021: Working on a Climate Education Law
Teach the Future worked hard before the 2021 Scottish Parliament elections. Because of their efforts, climate education was mentioned by several political parties. These included the Scottish Labour Party, Scottish Liberal Democrats, and SNP. The Scottish Greens even mentioned Teach the Future by name.
In March 2021, Teach the Future wrote changes for the new Welsh school plan. A politician named Llyr Gruffydd suggested these changes. Other parties like Plaid Cymru and the Welsh Conservatives supported them. However, the changes were not approved in a vote.
In August 2021, Teach the Future held a protest. They gathered outside the Department for Education building. They asked for better climate education.
In November 2021, a special bill was introduced in the UK Parliament. A bill is a proposed law. This climate education bill was written by students from Teach the Future. A politician named Nadia Whittome presented it. The Parliament voted to discuss the bill again later.
2022: Focusing on Teaching Changes
In September, Teach the Future shared their ideas for a "Curriculum for a changing climate." A curriculum is what students learn in school. They suggested ways to include climate teaching in all subjects. This was for primary school, KS3 (ages 11-14), and GCSE students in England. Their ideas were based on research.
2023: Meetings with Lawmakers
In March 2023, Teach the Future held a meeting at the Scottish Parliament. This event helped promote their goals for Scotland. Important people spoke there. These included education secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville and Ross Greer. The president of NUS Scotland, Ellie Gomersall, also spoke.
In June 2023, Teach the Future held a similar meeting in the Welsh Parliament. Members of the Senedd (Welsh Parliament) supported them.
In October 2023, the Labour Party included Teach the Future's Climate and Education Bill in their plans. This was for the next big election.
2024: Election Climate Cards
For the general election, Teach the Future started a new project. It is called "Is climate on their cards." Young people will ask politicians about their plans for climate change. Then, they will give the politicians a grade based on their answers.
What Teach the Future Wants
Teach the Future has specific goals for each of the four UK nations. This is because each nation has a different education system. They want to make sure climate education is part of every school's plan.
