Walk the Talk: When Teachers Become the Message in an Elementary School Smart Waste Management Program
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.29407/amq2zv84Keywords:
educational communication; , teacher behavior modeling; , social learning theory;, waste management;, elementary schoolAbstract
Waste management programs in elementary schools generally focus on verbal messages delivered by teachers to students, an approach that has yet to build sustained habits among students. This study investigates how a school positions teachers as model sources of waste management messages through the Smart Waste Management (Cerdas Kelola Sampah/CKS) program at a public elementary school in East Jakarta, as well as the barriers that accompany it. The study employed a descriptive qualitative approach with a single case study design. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with the principal, the teacher in charge of the program, the chair of the school committee, and student representatives; non-participant observation of the morning habituation routine, waste sorting during recess, and recycling activities; and program documentation. Data were analyzed using Miles and Huberman’s interactive model and interpreted through the frameworks of educational communication and Bandura’s social learning theory. The results show that teachers deliver verbal messages on a scheduled basis in class. The analysis of teacher–student communication using Bandura’s four processes revealed that students understand the color codes of waste bins, the meaning of recycling, and recycling practices. The school also implements a Little Police (Polisi Cilik) policy and gives recognition to recycled products made by students. The second finding shows that teachers acting as role models in practicing smart waste management is a crucial element. In this study, however, teachers’ role as exemplars emerged only after the program was underway; that is, before the program was socialized, students did not yet view teachers as role models. The barriers identified lie on the side of the message actors, whereas the facilities provided by the school are already adequate.
Downloads
References
Asrulla, Risnita, Jailani, M. S., & Jeka, F. (2024). Populasi dan sampling (kuantitatif), serta pemilihan informan kunci (kualitatif) dalam pendekatan praktis [Population and sampling (quantitative) and key informant selection (qualitative) in a practical approach]. Jurnal Pendidikan Tambusai, 8(1), 2721–2731.
Baiah, M., & Fadiana, M. (2024). Pendidikan karakter peduli lingkungan dengan penerapan budaya sekolah berwawasan lingkungan [Environmental care character education through the implementation of an environmentally oriented school culture]. Jurnal Basicedu, 8(3), 1700–1710. https://doi.org/10.31004/basicedu.v8i3.7455
Bandura, A. (1977). Social learning theory. Prentice-Hall.
Bandura, A. (1986). Social foundations of thought and action: A social cognitive theory. Prentice-Hall.
Bandura, A. (1997). Self-efficacy: The exercise of control. W. H. Freeman.
Baro’ah, S., & Mudzakir, M. Q. (2020). Penanaman CiLi (cinta lingkungan) pada siswa melalui program lingkungan sekolah tanpa sampah plastik [Instilling CiLi (love for the environment) in students through a plastic-free school environment program]. Jurnal Pancar, 4(1), 1–6.
Bryan, J. H., & Walbek, N. H. (1970). Preaching and practicing generosity: Children’s actions and reactions. Child Development, 41(2), 329–353. https://doi.org/10.2307/1127035
Cangara, H. (2017). Perencanaan dan strategi komunikasi [Communication planning and strategy] (Rev. ed.). Rajawali Pers.
Cerya, E., & Susanti, E. (2021). Strategi komunikasi lingkungan dalam membangun kepedulian masyarakat dalam pengelolaan sampah rumah tangga [Environmental communication strategies for building community concern in household waste management]. Jurnal Riset Tindakan Indonesia, 6(2), 1–9.
Debrah, J. K., Vidal, D. G., & Dinis, M. A. P. (2021). Raising awareness on solid waste management through formal education for sustainability: A developing countries evidence review. Recycling, 6(1), 6. https://doi.org/10.3390/recycling6010006
Epstein, J. L. (2011). School, family, and community partnerships: Preparing educators and improving schools (2nd ed.). Westview Press.
Handayani, S., Jamaludin, U., & Suparno. (2021). Penanaman karakter peduli lingkungan melalui kegiatan gotong royong di SDN Unyur [Instilling environmental care character through gotong royong activities at SDN Unyur]. Primary: Jurnal Pendidikan Guru Sekolah Dasar, 10(1), 144–158. https://doi.org/10.33578/jpfkip.v10i1.8019
Jackson, P. W. (1968). Life in classrooms. Holt, Rinehart and Winston.
Jawhari, A., & Yusuf, M. (2024). Analisis hambatan komunikasi dalam proses pembelajaran dan strategi mengatasinya [An analysis of communication barriers in the learning process and strategies to overcome them]. Jurnal Ilmiah Educational Management, 5(1), 1–11.
Karman, Ikhsan, A. N., Khoerunnisa, A. S., Fitriyani, A., & Ismail, D. S. (2026). Konsep dasar komunikasi pendidikan [Basic concepts of educational communication]. Pendas: Jurnal Ilmiah Pendidikan Dasar, 10(1), 136–152. https://doi.org/10.23969/jp.v10i01.22450
Levy, R. (2023). Home–school communication: What we have learned from the pandemic. Education 3-13, 52(1), 21–32. https://doi.org/10.1080/03004279.2023.2186972
Liang, M., Chen, Q., & Zhou, Y. (2022). The influence of various role models on children’s pro-environmental behaviours. Frontiers in Psychology, 13, 873078. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.873078
McCroskey, J. C., & Teven, J. J. (1999). Goodwill: A reexamination of the construct and its measurement. Communication Monographs, 66(1), 90–103. https://doi.org/10.1080/03637759909376464
Mekarisce, A. A. (2020). Teknik pemeriksaan keabsahan data pada penelitian kualitatif di bidang kesehatan masyarakat [Data validity checking techniques in qualitative public health research]. Jurnal Ilmiah Kesehatan Masyarakat, 12(3), 145–151.
Miftah, M. (2019). Strategi komunikasi efektif dalam pembelajaran [Effective communication strategies in learning]. Jurnal Teknodik, 23(1), 1–11.
Miles, M. B., Huberman, A. M., & Saldaña, J. (2014). Qualitative data analysis: A methods sourcebook (3rd ed.). SAGE.
Miyasaka, M., & Honda, S. (2024). Planning and management of environmental education to promote educator’s environmental awareness and pro-environmental behaviour. Discover Education, 3(1), Article 204. https://doi.org/10.1007/s44217-024-00322-4
Mkhonto, B., & Mnguni, L. (2021). The impact of a rural school-based solid waste management project on learners’ perceptions, attitudes and understanding of recycling. Recycling, 6(4), 71. https://doi.org/10.3390/recycling6040071
Mpuangnan, K. N., Mhlongo, H. R., & Govender, S. (2023). Managing solid waste in school environment through composting approach. Journal of Integrated Elementary Education, 3(1), 34–57. https://doi.org/10.21580/jieed.v3i1.16003
Nasution, A. F. (2023). Metode penelitian kualitatif [Qualitative research methods] (M. Albina, Ed.). CV Harfa Creative.
Paramita, E. P., Suadnya, I. W., Miharja, D. L., & Karyadi, H. N. (2021). Strategi komunikasi dalam program zero waste menuju NTB lestari oleh Dinas Lingkungan Hidup dan Kehutanan Provinsi Nusa Tenggara Barat [Communication strategy in the zero waste program toward a sustainable NTB by the Environment and Forestry Agency of West Nusa Tenggara Province]. Prosiding Saintek, 3, 1–11.
Permata, D. H., Mahadi, E. M. M., Poerwaningtias, I., & Iswandiariwati, M. A. (2026). Komunikasi persuasi melalui media sosial Instagram (studi pada @pandawaragroup) [Persuasive communication through Instagram social media (a study of @pandawaragroup)]. Jurnal Communio, 14(1), 1–13. https://doi.org/10.35508/jikom.v14i1.9631
Rahardjo, M. (2011). Metode pengumpulan data penelitian kualitatif [Qualitative research data collection methods]. UIN Maliki Press.
Septiawati, A. S., Lasmana, A. R. P., Jujun, Mutakin, M. R., Gelarsyah, M. F., & Mawardini, A. (2026). Pengelolaan sampah anorganik melalui edukasi 3R dan kegiatan kreatif di sekolah dasar [Inorganic waste management through 3R education and creative activities in elementary schools]. Karimah Tauhid, 4(8), 5793–5810. https://doi.org/10.30997/karimahtauhid.v4i8.19985
Sihvonen, P., Lappalainen, R., Herranen, J., & Aksela, M. (2024). Promoting sustainability together with parents in early childhood education. Education Sciences, 14(5), 541. https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci14050541
Sistem Informasi Pengelolaan Sampah Nasional. (2024). Capaian kinerja pengelolaan sampah nasional tahun 2024 [National waste management performance achievements in 2024] [Data set]. Ministry of Environment. Retrieved [date], from https://sipsn.menlhk.go.id/
Yana, F., Inayatillah, & Agustina, M. (2021). WhatsApp group: Media komunikasi orang tua dan guru [WhatsApp group: A communication medium for parents and teachers]. Al-Azkiya: Jurnal Ilmiah Pendidikan MI/SD, 6(1), 1–15. https://doi.org/10.32505/al-azkiya.v6i1.2614
Zuwirna. (2018). Komunikasi yang efektif [Effective communication]. E-Tech: Jurnal Ilmiah Teknologi Pendidikan, 6(1), 1–8.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Ratih Penari, Ratih Siti Aminah (Author)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
