The World Is As Flat As You Make It

It’s been almost two weeks since I returned from South Africa and only in the last few days have I really felt like I’m finally home, rested, and able to think about “what I brought back” from the trip (and I’m not talking about all the shopping I did!)

Although I learned so much that I couldn’t begin to list it all here, there is one learning point that has resonated strongly with me in the days since I returned.  As Americans, we all need to find more ways to expose ourselves to the world around us.  I was struck in South Africa by how little we really know about cultures outside of our own.  While it’s ‘easier’ to live within the confines of our own reality, there is much to be learned by viewing the world through the perspective of another culture. South Africa alone has 11 official languages, but I’m not sure I could have named 11 languages prior to this trip!  (update:  I just tried. . . I was able to name 25 before it started getting really hard.  How did you do? Yeah – not as easy as you thought, is it?)  Whether traveling to another side of the world or just across town, we as educators need to challenge ourselves and our students to learn as much as we can about the cultures, traditions and beliefs of people different from ourselves.  It’s from this exchange of ideas that we will learn and grow as a society and that our students and children will become informed, accepting and productive citizens of the world. 

We constantly hear how much “smaller” the world has become through technology – but have we REALLY taken advantage of that in our schools?  If the world is so small – why aren’t we hosting video chats or online discussions about Current Events with students in schools outside this country – or even outside your town?  How about an International News Podcast created by a team of students from around the world?  Imagine the power of hosting a classroom discussion between students in Iraq and the United States.   By opening ourselves to other cultures, we allow students to overcome fears, dispel myths and eliminate ignorance and build understanding, compassion and respect for their peers. If the world IS so small now – we should be challenging our students to touch all corners of it and I challenge all of you to do so in your classrooms this year.  It will change your perspective of everything you thought you once knew and everything your students are about to learn.     

Thanks again to Discovery. the team at LifeWorks, and the Discovery Channel Global Education Partnership for providing me this once in a lifetime experience -- it was truly life changing:)