Preparing Students for the Flat World written by Ryan Timothy Jacobs The University of North Carolina, Wilmington November, 2013
To accept your country without betraying it, you must love it for that which shows what it might become. America -- this monument to the genius of ordinary men and women, this place where hope becomes capacity, this long, halting turn of 'no' into the 'yes' -- needs citizens who love it enough to re-imagine and re-make it. ~ Cornel West There are many differences that set people apart in our world today. As the world we live in is becoming flatter and flatter, as globalization spreads and we see a diverse amount of people working together, there is a need for future generations to understand the people they are coming in contact with on a daily basis. These students need a good understanding of the differences between people, and social studies teachers have the opportunity to do so in their classrooms. Social studies teachers have the ability to engage and motivate students to understand and appreciate the cultural, geographical, historical, political and economic diversity in our world. Culturally, the United States is lagging in the ability to understand the world around us. We live in a country where the majority of people prefer to isolate themselves from the world around them. One of the key elements of this is religion. Being a predominantly Christian nation, in cases such as 9/11, most Americans assume that the terrorist attacks were a Muslim creation and not simply of Al-Qaeda (a group of radicals). I bring this up because when Timothy McVeigh's truck bombing in Oklahoma occurred, there was not much mention of his extreme Christian beliefs. These religious affiliations are curtailed by people's
misunderstanding of the issues. A terrorist is a terrorist, and that is that. Religion can bring people together, and in the United States, it seems to push people apart. In the classroom, social studies teachers have the ability to objectively and respectively teach religion and what it means to a certain group of people. The religions that different cultures identify with are fundamental to how a particular set of people perceive the world around them, and how they develop their morals, etiquette and connection to other people. Bringing people of different religious backgrounds together is a necessity in our world today. Having students empathize with people of different religious backgrounds in the classroom is key to developing our country in a much more understanding and appreciative way. Other cultural understanding such as language, social habits, art and food are also a vital component of cultural understanding. Students can be asked to prepare and bring food from their families customary menus, perform a dance, recite a poem or do a weekly project on a country that they have not yet come to understand. Geographically, the students of the United States tend to lack a sense of understanding regarding how it may be to live in a developing country. In the United States, the majority of households are living moderately well and do not have the same day-to-day problems that face children in other countries such as Honduras, Cambodia or Kenya. In the classroom, students should be faced with the problems that occur for these families. Through obtaining pen pals, lesson plans, role play of living in poverty and videos, students can have a better idea of what these people face. Also geographically, through learning about the different types of foods consumed, or whether they live in deserts, near volcanoes, or have experienced earthquakes (ex: Haiti), the students can come to understand how these types of situations can impact the lives of people who live under these various conditions.
In addition, history plays probably one of the biggest roles in self identification throughout the world today. The place where people are from, grew up in and the way that location has developed is engraved in a person. From slavery in the South, communism in the Soviet Union, the bombings in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, dictators in places such as China and apartheid in South Africa, historic struggles pave the way for what could set people apart or how children could see that struggle and persecution occurs throughout the world. Teaching how we all fight a common fight against oppression world wide as opposed to feeling historically different is essential. By teaching the importance of a common goal and understanding the uniqueness of each culture, this helps empower children to work together towards a common goal. The political regime of each individual nation impacts whether a student feels safe, secure and able to voice their opinion. Politics is local, in the classroom, at home and everywhere else that we go in our lives. To understand how politics has affected the world around us, is to understand the beliefs that people feel are important to them in regard to how people work together and how they combat one another. In the classroom, teachers can empower students to speak their mind regarding issues, identify with people from around the world and even play out current political situations (such as a United Nations debate, presidential debate or write letters to their congressmen/women). Letting children know that their opinion matters empowers their ability to think critically, be innovative, aspire to better things and be creative. By the use of historic and current events, teachers can help students identify with what matters to them, help shape their own beliefs and build upon the ideas that they might already have themselves. It is very necessary to help students understand the importance of politics in their lives, both on a local level and a global level.
To conclude, social studies teachers can engage and motivate students to understand and appreciate the cultural, geographical, historical, political and economic diversity in our world through the use of many different methods. One of the most significant ways to engage and motivate these students is through teaching empathy of other people. Having students identify with the differences of other students and people around the world through communication is vital. Helping students understand how differences are unique and wonderful, as opposed to "wrong" or "right" is key to teamwork and identification on a global scale. Through teaching globally as well as locally, teachers can help students better understand the world around us. Finally, using politics as a tool of self empowerment, teachers can help students find their voice and the niche in the world at large. These various activities in the classroom can better prepare students globally in the flat world.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR Ryan Timothy Jacobs, grad student @ The University of North Carolina, Wilmington (UNCW) worked over two years with English Language Learners (ELLs), as well as in New Hanover County and New Brunswick County High Schools. In addition, Jacobs' attended Watson Education College (WEC) @ UNCW with a focus in Social Studies (Civics and Economics), and tutored students from countries afar (Burma, Mexico, Egypt, etc). Jacobs' obtained his BA in Political Science in May on 2014. He is currently working towards his MA in Conflict Management and Resolution (CMR), on an international and domestic dual track. For more information on the author, please email rtjacobs904@yahoo.com.