Teach Environmental Histories network
Secondary history teachers' network
Teach Environmental Histories is a network that helps secondary school history teachers based in England to address young people’s concerns about the future of the planet. History has huge potential for educating pupils about the climate and ecological emergency. Crucially, the history that pupils learn in school can help them to understand how we got to our present predicament and what it will take to make the world we need.
Stories of human progress and the earth as an inert source of resources for our greater prosperity are dominant in school history. These narratives now seem more dangerous than helpful. Instead, we need histories that make ecological sense underpinned by a respect for evidence and the diverse experiences of humans and the more-than-human world. Teach Environmental Histories explores histories that nurture connection to the earth, resilience, co-operation and creative responses to climate and ecological change.
The discussion forum meets three times a year online and invites a wide range of keynote speakers, including teachers, teacher educators and historians, to share their perspectives and help us to collectively develop our subject knowledge.
Anyone can attend who has an interest in how school history can help young people to understand the environmental crisis. In addition to the speaker events, there are opportunities to join smaller groups who are supporting each other to explore particular themes in the classroom.
Teach Environmental Histories builds upon the work of the network Teach Climate History whose website shares readings, resources and recordings of past meetings on the following link: https://teachclimatecouk.wordpress.com/
A Steering Group coordinates Teach Environmental Histories. The current members are:
- Alex Ford, PGCE History Lead & SHP Fellow, Leeds Trinity University.
- Alison Kitson, Associate Professor of Education, UCL.
- Barbara Trapani, Teacher of History, Orleans Park School, SHP Fellow, HA Teaching Fellow.
- Flora Parkinson, Teacher of History, Hampton High.
- Michael Riley, Lecturer in History Education, UCL.
- Sally Burnham, Chair of HA Secondary Committee, Assistant Head and Teacher of History, Carre’s Grammar School.
- Verity Dove, Teacher of History, The Cotswold School & GITEP History Subject Lead.
If you would like to get in touch, please e-mail one of the steering group using the email addresses below: