O Verde Invisível: Diagnóstico da impercepção botânica em comunidades escolares de Areia - PB

Abstract

The importance of plants for humanity in socioeconomic and environmental contexts is immeasurable. However, plants have become increasingly less perceived and undervalued, causing irreversible impacts on the critical construction of populations and, consequently, increasingly severe environmental impacts. The need for alternatives to combat this botanical imperception becomes increasingly urgent. Education is the way to overcome misinformation and promote the preservation and conscious use of natural resources and a more sustainable world for future generations. In this context, this study analyzed two school communities in the city of Areia-PB to diagnose the level of botanical imperception in the three segments (high school students, teachers and parents). For this, structured questionnaires were used to collect data, statistical tests of means were performed to evaluate botanical imperception in the segments, as well as analyses of the textbooks used in schools. We identified botanical imperception in all segments, however, it is significantly higher in students. Although third-year students (high school background) saw more botany content than first-year students (elementary school background), there was no significant difference in botany ignorance between them. The teaching of botany has been suppressed by the gap and reduction of botanical content in textbooks, associated with the lack of connection with people's reality and the poor training of most teachers, and these factors contribute to increasing botany ignorance in society. It is essential to invest in public policies aimed at valuing and training teachers and improving work environments, investing heavily in environmental education, improving textbooks, interdisciplinarity, scientific dissemination, and bringing botany closer to people's reality through immersive experiences in the natural environment.