The importance of environmental protection and the formation of ecological thinking among students

Currently, one of the urgent problems is the development of ecological thinking and the formation of ecological culture of students. A purposeful system of environmental education is the main means of environmental culture, and requires students to be environmentally responsible. Environmental responsibility is associated with self-control of the individual, the ability to see immediate and long-term results in the natural environment, as well as a critical attitude towards oneself and others. Currently, the concern about environmental issues is extremely high. These problems directly affect the foundations of civilization and determine the possibilities of the existence of humanity. One of the effective means of forming the ecological culture of students is their purposeful environmental education. Their correct attitude to nature and the environment arises on the basis of ecological knowledge. The ecological attitude of students forms and develops their sense of environmental responsibility. Environmental education is carried out in two directions: fundamental (in natural sciences) and applied (technical). Here the main thing is the fundamental direction and this is not unreasonable. The fundamental direction arose on the basis of the integration of various subjects. Ecological education and upbringing, mastering ecological culture is a way that binds and connects a person, including students of secondary schools, with nature. In this sense, environmental education, environmental thinking, environmental teaching and environmental culture serve as an indicator of environmental awareness and the level of environmental thinking. The development of ecological thinking and the formation of ecological culture among students is an urgent problem for biology teachers in secondary schools. The article also notes that the knowledge gained during environmental education and enlightenment and the experience gained constitute ecological thinking. Environmental education refers to the process of continuous education, upbringing and development aimed at finding a common environmental culture and responsibility. The goal of environmental education of students is to develop a sense of responsibility towards nature. The ecological culture of students is characterized by three main features: attraction to nature from a psychological aspect; subjective nature of perception of objects of nature; attempts to establish non-pragmatic interaction with nature. The formation of ecological thinking among students of secondary schools should become an important goal of pedagogical collectives, educational institutions, parents, as well as the public and general organizations.