ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION: PERSPECTIVES OF DEVELOPMENT

Realizing existing environmental problems the contemporary humanity is seeking new ways of interaction with environment. On the one hand it lies in development of innovative technologies in manufacturing process which reserve natural resources and focus on enhancement of environment. On the other hand it implies introduction of environmental knowledge into all spheres of education. Psychological science claims that a person of postindustrial society is spiritually distanced from nature and the increasing formal religiosity doesn't prevent them from developing a pragmatic view on their being. Striving to take everything from life “right now and right here” has made an impact on development of values. They have changed for the worse. The process of human mentality change is long-term. It requires organization of special institutions which would study these issues from the early childhood to make a child understand the role of environment as the most important value needed for preserving the life on the Earth. That is why it is very important for children to want and for teachers to able to carry out this process jointly. World viewing component of environmental education is intended to find out human's belonging to the world – whether a person is “in” the world, “out” of world or “above” the world – and to organize the system of knowledge which would correspond to this understanding of human's place in the world where environment would act as the main value of life and work. It is significant to change the character of relationships between the contemporary society and the environment; it should be developed on the basis of such principles as subordination, coordination and correlation. It is necessary to research the order of interrelations, the character of interrelation of elements and transformation of elements in the environment. Supporting the statement that knowledge is the basis of any education we claim that the content of environmental education being a part of general education with its complex and integrated character can provide comprehensive study of the environment to students.