But in her classroom, children are bucking the trend. 

Following a series of lessons on endangered species, Ella, 7, has taken out an art prize as part of the Wilderness Society’s Environment Award for Children’s Literature.

As a result, the Hunter Valley Grammar School student’s drawing of the southern right whale will be used to raise awareness of species, which is in trouble.

“It’s really important children are exposed to the importance of our relationship to the environment from a young age,” head stage one teacher Paula Fisher said. 

“We also talk about how we affect the lives of animals and that this is their home and habitat as well, and we have to share that with them.”