Thoughts

I was glad to see in both articles that it was acknowledged that the task of educating our students for a globalized future doesn't just fall on social studies and language teachers alone: rather, it puts the onus on the entire curriculum and indeed the school culture as a whole.  I also feel that teachers of other subjects get a raw deal often in the literature on these topics – I'm pretty sure that sciences like Biology have to take a global view as well!  That being said, those of us who feel that our subject "covers" global education can't rest on our laurels either and give ourselves a pat on the back.  In fact, the onus is on us to further develop and exploit the opportunities that are available for our students to develop a more global and aware approach to our learning.

I found it interesting also how both articles also flirted with the "it's the economy, stupid" arguments regarding global competence.  I couldn't agree more that what may be perceived as softer skills will actually enhance and complement the more quantitative skills that are emphasized by those with a pure economic focus.  What I find interesting is how the proponents of educating for social and cultural awareness have to coat their ideas around this – this says a lot about what education is often viewed to be by those who ultimately get to make crucial decisions, and how those with true vision may often have to dilute it for a variety of cultural or political reasons.

Building on this point, I wonder about the phrase "globally 'competent'"?  This is an issue of semantics, but it makes me wonder.  How does one measure "competency"?  By listing skills and expectations, are we actually regressing to a more traditional view of education where students have to master a set of nominal skills, and then we (the experts...) get to declare them competent?  But if we don't have a set focus on this, are we then allowing potential critics to declare that this is not a worthwhile exercise, that it's up-in-the-fluffy-clouds stuff?  

Semantics aside, I found these articles really interesting and felt re-assured that we are doing a lot of what is suggested by the authors in both our classrooms, and the school as a whole.  Having a sense of focus on this at the start of the year will hopefully encourage us to be more explicit as to what we are already doing, how these actions tie into our mission as a whole, and also encourage us to take more opportunities and risks in how our students approach a more globalized world.

See you all in a few weeks!

Lizanne

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Lizanne Moynihan

Upper School History Dept.

Buckingham Browne & Nichols School

617-800-2244