Abstract:
Several studies show that schools are, par excellence, institutions responsible for
promoting actions aimed at developing environmental awareness within the school community
and, in particular, among students. However, there has been a lack of awareness in schools
about how to care for the environment. This is manifested, on the one hand, by the poor
treatment of solid waste, the consumption of drugs, alcoholic beverages, the possession of
sound devices, the destruction of ecological heritage (trampling on grass), and, on the other
hand, by the poor maintenance of public heritage and failure to fully comply with the standards
established in this socio-educational space. The findings described above lead us to question
what schools have been teaching, to the point that basic elements of environmental education
and citizenship are not reflected in the daily conduct of citizens and students in particular. In
this line, this study sought to analyze the perceptions and practices of students and teachers at
the Comunhão na Colheita Community School regarding environmental education. The study
sample consisted of 23 participants, of which 12 were students (3 per class), 11 teachers, of
which (4) teach Portuguese; (2) Geography; (2) Biology; (2) Agriculture and Livestock and (1)
Trades. Random sampling was used for their selection. For this purpose, a qualitative approach
was adopted, using semi-structured interviews, observation and document analysis as data
collection techniques. The study concluded that the students and teachers of the Comunhão na
Colheita Community School are environmentally aware, and that subjects on the topic of
environmental education are addressed in several subjects of general secondary education. The
contents are assimilated both in the classroom environment and through practical exercises in
the external environment and in extracurricular activities such as cleaning campaigns and
lectures involving the school community
