Nobody is perfect: Three Myths That Sabotage Sustainability Education – and How to Dismantle Them

Myths in and about sustainability education (MYTHSE) are abundant in higher education, yet unlike general educational myths they remain a blind spot: less visible, less tangible, and far less challenged. Some of them are surprisingly convincing: they sound modern, moral, or even progressive. Yet confronting them matters. Research shows that simply stating the facts is not enough. Poorly designed myth-busting can even backfire by reinforcing the very ideas it seeks to dispel (Siegel, 2025b; Zanartu et al., 2024). To address three of the most persistent teacher and teaching-related MYTHSE, I use the evidence-based truth-sandwich method. So, let’s begin our myth-busting menu — three courses of sustainability teaching myths, served with evidence and reflection. Ready to take a bite?