Becoming Citizens of the World

Teachers who participated in the Africa in Transition workshop submitted suggestions for International Outreach Education programs next year. Many teachers used the term "global" to refer to issues that they proposed. Framing an issue in regional terms is no longer enough; our consideration must be within a global frame that takes into account multiple causes and world wide consequences if we are to educate students to be citizens of the world. Last fall I came across an interesting article on framing that broadened my thinking on the issue of immigration: The Framing of Immigration by linguist George Lakoff and Sam Ferguson on the Rockridge Institute website: http://www.rockridgeinstitute.org/research/rockridge/immigration. Take a look.

If you have a suggestion for teacher workshop topics for 2007-2008, let me know by making a comment on this blog. International Outreach Education plans to hold five teacher workshops and one student workshop related to global issues. I am in a planning mode, so now is the time to let me hear your requests.

Last week, Dr. Merry M. Merryfield, Social Studies & Global Education at Ohio State University sent out an article entitled Becoming Citizens of the World. The article poses that question: The future is here. It's multiethnic, multicultural, and multilingual. But are students ready for it? What is the best way to educate our students so that they are prepared for the challenges of the 21st century? Do you agree with the article? Let me know what you think? If you want to join Dr. Merryfield’s list serve, contact her at: world727@lists.acs.ohio-state.edu

I know that school is almost over, so bookmark The National Peace Corps Association web site for the fall. It provides resources for global studies: Internet links, lesson plans, and student activities on the Global TeachNet site: http://www.globalteachnet.org

Africa in Transition Workshop

Martha Green on Nigeria and Chinua Achebe

My introduction to the conflict that currently plagues Nigeria was through the pages of Chinua Achebe’s novel Things Fall Apart which I read with my AP English class at Anderson-Shiro High School. I was shocked by the brutality and corruption that Achebe described and yet drawn to the author’s use of Igbo language and Nigerian folk tales used to illustrate social issues. Workshop speaker Paul Obiazi, a Nigerian native, assured me that Achebe’s view of Nigeria continues to be accurate in spite of the fact that the book was written in 1959. The book’s title comes from a poem, "The Second Coming," by William Butler Yeats and is eerily prophetic today.

Turning and turning in the widening gyre
The falcon cannot hear the falconer
Things fall apart, the centre cannot hold
Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world.

Speaking out about the 1983 election in The Trouble with Nigeria, Chinua Achebe wrote, “The trouble with Nigeria is simply and squarely a failure of leadership. There is nothing basically wrong with the Nigerian character. There is nothing wrong with the Nigerian land or climate or water or air or anything else.”

In his presentation, Paul stated Nigeria’s future is bright and emphasized that hope for the future lies in strong civilian leadership and unity.

Sometime things just don’t work out like you planned. I designed a digital version of the Nigerian folk tale, The Tortoise and the Birds, with the text taken from chapter 11 of Things Fall Apart to share with workshop participants, but there was not time to show the video. Watch to see if you can identify the social issues that Achebe illustrates in the tale.

Linda Edwards visits with Dr. Mary Ghong

I am struck by how little most of us know about Africa and actually about many countries on this continent. Africa holds a wealth of mystery that textbooks just don’t cover. This past week the Texas A&M World Room programs hosted a K-12 teacher workshop on Africa in Transition. Dr. Mary Ghong provided insight into the tiny country of Cameroon and cultural challenges that Cameroonian children who migrate to the U.S face. Dr. Ghong introduced Texas teachers to the taste of baked plantains, and taught them how to dance the Makossa. According to Mary, there is no stress in Cameroon because everyone loves to dance.

Cameroon is a country that I knew existed but really had no real knowledge of. Interestingly, the very next day after the workshop, I heard a news story on television about Cameroon. I paid attention. I’m not sure I would have listened before hearing Dr. Ghong speak on the Impact of Socio-cultural Differences: The case of Cameroonian children in the U.S. Listen to her podcast and see if you begin to hear the name of the country of Cameroon again as I did.

Linda Edwards talks with Dr. Darryl de Ruiter

Whether you believe in evolution or the divine creation of man, the discovery of bones that are thousands of years old is interesting. The mind takes flight as you imagine how these people lived and where they traveled. Research that is conducted in South Africa opens up some of the mysteries of modern man, how he looked, what he ate, and where he may have migrated. During a teacher’s workshop on May 4 on Africa in Transition, Dr. Darryl de Ruiter, professor of Anthropology at Texas A&M gave a presentation on The Pre-History of Africa: Searching for the Origins of Modern Humans in South Africa. I had an opportunity to talk with Dr. De Ruiter about his research on human origins following the presentation. Listen to Dr. deRuiter discuss: Evolutionary Principles and Changes in Climate and Geology, Early Hominid Fossils in Africa, and the Development of Modern Humans and Surviving Global Warming.

Martha Green with Danielle Bolks

I have to admit that English is my “only” language in spite of classes in both Spanish and French. I cannot imagine how frightening it must be to arrive in a new country where you do not know that language. Coming to the United States offers great hope to refugees who have been caught in political conflict in Africa, but I was struck by the challenges of relocation as I visited with Danielle Bolks, Supervisor of the Refugee Resettlement Program for Catholic Charities in Houston. Listen to the podcast to hear Ms. Bolks talk about how teachers can help students from another culture adjust in the classroom.

Great classroom writing project on Africa
Take a look and send a message of support to the teacher and students

Yesterday, I received an e-mail from Merry Merryfield through the Global Studies list serve at the Ohio State University about an innovative classroom project on Africa: (world727@lists.acs.ohio-state.edu)

Mrs. Mead's 4th grade class at Pecan Creek Elementary in Denton, Texas, is writing, publishing and selling a book titled "More Than Just A Mvule Tree" for $5 per copy. All monies will be used to purchase Mvule trees to be planted in Uganda and maintained by Ugandan children to fund education through the Kibo Group http://www.kibogroup.org.

The press release stated, "We are having our book release event on Friday, May 11th in the Pecan Creek Elementary Cafeteria from 2:00-2:30 p.m.” You can reach teacher Natalie Mead at nmead@dentonisd.org.

Take a look at Mrs. Mead's Fourth Grade web page and at the Kibo Group's description of the Mvule project. Visit http://www.dentonisd.org/nmead and http://www.kibogroup.org.

The Power of Storytelling

Recently, I attended an awards ceremony at the university that included a series of presentations. To tell you the truth, I don’t remember anything that was said..... except the story that a dean told about why geese honk at each other as they fly. According to the story, each goose honks to encourage the goose in front of him. Next fall when I see geese flying against the grey November sky, I will remember that story and recall how important it is for each of us to encourage those we work with so that we can all succeed.

Storytelling breaks down barriers and connects people on a personal level. Telling about personal experiences and listening to the stories of others allows children to gain a sense of how family and cultural values shape their attitudes. Stories extend children’s experience with the world and encourage them to imagine themselves playing new roles and taking on unanticipated challenges.

Listen to the podcast to hear what Devon O’Neal, Director of Educational Programs for the Brazos Valley Children’s Museum has to say about the impact of storytelling on the children she works with at the museum and storytelling techniques that keep children engaged in a story.