Teach the Future

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Teach the Future
Teach the Future Campaign
Named afterThe 2nd UKSCN Demand
Formation12 October 2019
TypeCampaign
PurposeClimate education and green school estate
Region
UK - active all nations
Parent organization
UK Student Climate Network, Students Organising for Sustainability UK, Fridays for Future Scotland, the National Union of Students Scotland, UKSCN Wales
SubsidiariesTeach the Future England
Teach the Future Scotland
Teach the Future Wales
Teach the Future NI
Websitehttps://www.teachthefuture.uk

Teach the Future is a youth-led campaign pushing for broad climate education in the UK, with specific branches in Scotland, England and Wales. It is formed by a volunteer base of students studying across England, Scotland and Wales at all levels of education - from secondary to tertiary - who believe that sustainability and climate change need to be taught across the curriculum, equipping generations to come with the skills and knowledge needed for the green jobs of the futures.[1]

History[edit]

2019: Founding[edit]

The idea for Teach the Future was formulated at the Friends of the Earth Youth Gathering at the Keele University in the summer of 2019, with young climate campaigners frustrated at their lack of school education on climate. “The Teach the Future” slogan evolved from the demands of the Student Climate Network- which worked regularly with Teach the Future through the campaigns forming.

The campaign was unveiled on 12 October 2019 at the National Education Union's Climate Emergency Conference, in front of a room full of educational specialists and campaigners. Two days after the campaign unveiling, Teach the Future began a petition for broader climate education across the country which has gathered more than 27,000 signatures.[2]

In the lead-up to the 2019 UK General Election, Teach the Future launched a campaign to improve climate crisis education policy in political party manifestos. The Labour Party included a curriculum review in their manifesto while the Green Party of England and Wales mentioned Teach the Future's English Climate Emergency Education Act in theirs.

2020: Parliamentary reception and new campaigns[edit]

The campaign hosted a parliamentary reception to gain support for their campaign, with Nadia Whittome as their Parliamentary Sponsor. This reception was held in the Houses of Parliament's Terrace Pavilion on 26 February 2020 and had an attendance of over 150 politicians, educators, student campaigners, union representatives and supporters.

Between March and April 2020 the campaign suspended its activities in light of the COVID lockdown.[3]

After this period, Teach the Future moved to a more online-focused organising system which has been largely retained.[4]

In May 2020, six new student staff members were appointed to Coordinate Teach the Future alongside existing volunteers.[5]

In June Teach the Future began their campaign for a green recovery for education from Covid.[6]

Tech the Future launched in June 2020 with an event outside the Scottish parliament. The group held meetings with Deputy First Minister John Swinney and MSPs from across the parliament.[7]

2021: Drafting a climate education bill[edit]

As a result of Teach the Future's campaigning ahead of the 2021 Scottish Parliament elections, Climate education was mentioned in the manifestos of the Scottish Labour Party, Scottish Liberal Democrats and SNP[8], while the Scottish Greens specifically referenced the campaign in their manifesto.[9]

In March 2021 Teach the Future drafted amendments to the new Welsh curriculum which were tabled by MS Llyr Grufdydd[10] and gained support from Plaid Cymru and the Welsh Conservatives, before being defeated 20-31 in a debate.

In August 2021 Teach the Future held a protest outside the Department for Education, calling for improved climate education.[11]

In November 2021- Teach the Future’s student-written climate education bill was tabled by Nadia Whittome in the UK Parliament.[12] The parliament voted for the bill to be given a future 2nd reading.[13] The bill lapsed after its 2nd reading due to it not being given further floor time during the rest of the 2021-22 parliamentary session.

2022: Focus on teaching reform[edit]

In may 2022, Teach the Future was awarded 'Highly Commended” in the 2022 Your UK Parliament Awards.

In September 2022, Teach the Future held a climate Education teaching event in London.

Also during September, Teach the Future launched their “Curriculum for a changing climate” proposals with recommendations for the integration of climate teaching in all subjects across primary, KS3 and GCSE students in England based on academic research.[14]

2023: Parliamentary Receptions[edit]

In March 2023 Teach the Future held a Scottish parliamentary reception, to promote its Scottish asks. The reception included speeches from education secretary Shirley Anne Sommerville, Ross Greer MSP, and NUS Scotland president Ellie Gomersall.[15]

In June 2023 Teach the Future held a Welsh parliamentary reception, with the support of Senedd Members.[16]

In October 2023, Teach the Future’s Climate and Education Bill was included in the Labour's draft policy programme for the General Election.[17]

2024: General Election Climate Cards[edit]

For the upcoming general election Teach the Future has launched the campaign, “Is climate on their cards.” A project where young people will ask politicians about their climate commitments and grade them on their answers.[18]

Asks[edit]

Teach the Future had developed campaign asks for each of the four UK Nation's differing education systems.

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Teach the Future". Teach the Future. Retrieved 14 April 2020.
  2. ^ "Sign the Petition: It's time to implement broad climate education". www.teachthefuture.uk. Retrieved 6 June 2024.
  3. ^ "Covid-19 Announcement". www.teachthefuture.uk. Retrieved 6 June 2024.
  4. ^ "Charlie Sweetman - Campaign Coordinator". www.teachthefuture.uk. Retrieved 6 June 2024.
  5. ^ "1,105 students write to Rishi Sunak calling for Green Recovery for Education". www.teachthefuture.uk. Retrieved 6 June 2024.
  6. ^ "1,105 students write to Rishi Sunak calling for Green Recovery for Education". www.teachthefuture.uk. Retrieved 6 June 2024.
  7. ^ "It's Launch Day!". www.teachthefuture.uk. Retrieved 6 June 2024.
  8. ^ "Inclusion of Teach the Future Scotland's Asks in Party Manifestos". www.teachthefuture.uk. Retrieved 6 June 2024.
  9. ^ "Education". Scottish Greens. Retrieved 6 June 2024.
  10. ^ "We Wrote an Amendment to the New Welsh Curriculum". www.teachthefuture.uk. Retrieved 6 June 2024.
  11. ^ "We Took Our Fight To Gavin Williamson's Doorstep". www.teachthefuture.uk. Retrieved 6 June 2024.
  12. ^ Tidman, Zoe (23 November 2021). "'First student-written' bill calls for climate crisis to be taught across school curriculum". The Independent. Retrieved 6 June 2024.
  13. ^ "Climate Education Bill First Reading Highlights". www.teachthefuture.uk. Retrieved 6 June 2024.
  14. ^ "The Launch of Curriculum for a Changing Climate". www.teachthefuture.uk. Retrieved 6 June 2024.
  15. ^ "Scotland Parliamentary Reception: One Month On". www.teachthefuture.uk. Retrieved 6 June 2024.
  16. ^ "Reflections on our Welsh Parliamentary Reception and Updated Asks". www.teachthefuture.uk. Retrieved 6 June 2024.
  17. ^ "Labour has adopted our Climate Education Bill in their draft policy programme ahead of the general election!". www.teachthefuture.uk. Retrieved 6 June 2024.
  18. ^ "Demand Climate Education Reform this General Election | Teach the Future". www.teachthefuture.uk. Retrieved 6 June 2024.
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