The construction of environmental statements in the curriculum, in perspective of the will to make things right

Abstract

A discussion is presented regarding the construction of the environmental discourse based on the talks from the teachers of the 2nd and the 27th Regional Education Coordination of the State of Rio Grande do Sul, having as a main point of this discussion, the influences of the mega-conferences on sustainable development and environment, as well as the naturalization of the modern thought in the current  conceptions on environment shown in the speeches of 30 high school educators. In the teachers’ talks it was possible to notice a common concern: to teach the “good direction” concerning the subjects life and environment, specially regarding preservation issues in the context of the urban environment. In the scope of this work, the desire for the good direction is called the “will to make things right”. As the observed speeches demonstrate very explicit relationships of power, the discussions will be based on the thoughts of the French philosopher Michel Foucault. It is our purpose to understand which statements constitute, in the teachers’ speeches, the will to make things right.