a The Ranking of Global Environmental Issues and Problems by Polish Secondary Students and Teachers

Abstract

This article presents a study of the priorities given to global environmental issues/problems by over 700
secondary students and teachers in nine secondary schools in two cities in Katowice Province in Upper
Silesia, Poland. The 12 global environmental issues/problems used in the study were originally identified
by Rodger Bybee. The students and teachers ranked air quality and hazardous substances as the most
important environmental problems and energy shortages and mineral resources as the least important.
The study also determined where students get most of their information about environmental problems
and related it to the importance of personal experience. Some background information about
environmental problems in Poland is also given. The study has important implications for determining
what changes should be made in secondary science curriculum and instruction in Polish secondary
schools if students are to develop a greater understanding of the need for global environmental
sustainability.