Global Competency - Fancy Name, Basic Idea

So in sitting down to read through a few more blog posts to get ready for today, I realized that my own contribution was missing!  I wrote this quite some time ago, but clearly forgot to post it – my sincerest apologies.

 

--------------

 

The very first and most lasting point that stuck out to me from our readings came rather early on in Howard Gardner's preface of Educating for Global Competence.  It reads,  "we must be willing to confront examples of bad work and bad citizenship, whether they occur among 20-year-olds or 60-year-olds, in history, literature, and our hometown; and we must help young people develop their own ethical compasses, which they can and should use in conjunction with their mentors and peers."  I think this quote really gets at one of my own core beliefs about living "globally."  In the end, it's really about being that good citizen – demonstrating respect for others and acting ethically.  It also speaks to the idea that this isn't something for older students; all students can begin to engage in the idea that there are other perspectives out there and there are was to communicate and learn with/from others, regardless of where they are currently or where they are from.

 

Another point which stood out to me, this time from the Reimers work (page 191), is this:

 

            These values include compassion and caring, concern for others,

            respect and reciprocity; commitment to universal human rights

            and international covenants (including the expansion of human

            freedoms and capabilities, and recognition of the basic equality

            of all people); and commitment to protecting the environment and

            of addressing global challenges collaboratively.

 

I can't quite think of anything better that we should be teaching our students.  I'm looking forward to making use of the resources Reimers speaks of and exploring these ideas further with my fourth graders this year.

Laura M. (LS)