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Show Global education a priority i "Being curious about the world and being an American are no longer incompatible; in the world of the 21st century, the two will be congruent and mutually reinforcing." reinforc-ing." That's the appraisal of a recent article written by Jan L. Tucker, professor of social studies education edu-cation and director of the Global Awareness Program, Florida International Inter-national University, in the National Association of Secondary School Principals' monthly journal. Because of the shrinking world, secondary schools must place attention atten-tion on teaching global education the relationships between nations and people. "Secondary school social studies programs can no longer separate the United States and the rest of the world in geography, history and economics classes," said Timothy J. Dyer, NASSP executive director. "Educators must emphasize global awareness and interdependence," he added. There are at least three crucial components to education for a global perspective, according to The ability to conceptualize and understand the complexities of the international system. A knowledge of world cultures and international events, and An appreciation of the diversities diver-sities and commonalties of human values and interest Global education should expand an individual's perception of the world, according to Tucker. She called for change in the classroom, beginning with elimination elimina-tion of the idea that instruction must be separated into "domestic and "foreign" blocks. Typical courses are developed around U.S. history, world history, U.S. geography or world geography. "The social sciences are much the same," Tucker wrote. "Government as a subject is almost exclusively devoted to our national i government, with state and local government sometimes sprinkled about" "Economics is usually based on an outdated domestic model with very little recognition of the linkage between our national and global economies,' she added. Not only must education change to provide students with the global view, they'll need to succeed in the future, it must change quickly. "Will the rest of the world, developing de-veloping economically and politically politi-cally at breakneck speed, permit the United States the luxury of our entire en-tire generation to readjust to the new international scheme of things?" asked Tucker. "Probably not They will proceed pro-ceed with or without us. Our self-interest self-interest is served by being vitally involved in world affairs. "The rapid infusion of global ! education into the secondary social studies curriculum will greatly assist in understanding the complex era that has opened up before us. ' |