Abstract
Discussing the establishment of environmental studies as a new subject is intrinsically related to our image or vision of the subject - that is, what we want to include in the discipline. Although it is difficult to grasp this topic while it is still under discussion, this paper first considers the desirable characteristics of the subject, and then discusses requirements to achieve them. Four requirements are raised in Chapter 2. The first requirement is that the subject should be interdisciplinary, i.e. a so-called school subject in the wider sense. The other three requirements are narrower, and derived from an understanding of MEXT. These are: 1) the need for teachers qualified in the specific field, 2) the need for an authorized textbook, and 3) the need for a numerical grading system. Chapter 3 discusses the desirable vision for environmental education, i.e. its educational purpose and contents. Among various educational purposes, this paper places emphasis on helping students to develop thinking ability, especially logical thinking and consciousness about ethical concerns. Chapter 4 discusses the necessities of requirements based on our vision for the subject. This paper concludes that establishment of environmental studies as a new subject is necessary, at least in the wider sense. Moreover, requirement 1) should be met. Concerning the other two requirements, however, there is a wide range of possible judgments. Independently from the author's proposal, a totally different conception of the subject could also be proposed. However, the framework of this paper makes it possible to judge whether or not the establishment of environmental studies as a new subject is necessary.
