ABSTRACT

Now more than ever, school gardens can contribute to primary education, as a foundation for integrated learning and a resource for children’s wellbeing and health. The primary aim of this study was to build a picture of the many ways school gardens are used and valued in Irish primary schools. A qualitative approach, incorporating site visits and interviews with key drivers of school garden programmes, enabled a detailed and colourful picture to emerge. Schools use their gardens in a variety of imaginative ways to encourage children’s development. Key factors drive garden success, and enable schools to meet and overcome associated challenges. Teachers value their school gardens because they provide an arena for learning, space for pastoral care, a focus for school and community involvement and a source of pleasure for the school community. Insights from this study may prove useful to teachers, education professionals and policymakers internationally.

摘要

现在，学校花园比以往任何时候都更能促进小学教育，作为综合学习的基础和儿童福祉与健康的资源。本研究的主要目的是描绘爱尔兰小学使用和重视学校花园的多种方式。一种定性的方法，结合实地考察和对学校花园项目主要驱动因素的采访，使一幅详细而多彩的画面浮现出来。学校以各种富有想象力的方式使用他们的花园来鼓励孩子们的发展。推动花园成功的关键因素，使学校能够应对和克服相关挑战。教师重视他们的学校花园，因为它们提供了学习的场所、教牧关怀的空间、学校和社区参与的焦点以及学校社区的快乐源泉。