Time to rid our etnocentric view of the world

The globally connected world is here to stay, regardless of those individuals who refuse to accept the reality of change. Heidi Hayes Jacobs, in her book Curriculum 21: Essential Education for a Changing World, outlines a set of criteria which schools should be implementing in order to be preparing students for the global world which they will be participating in. Jacobs does not walk the line between the traditional approach which schools have taken and the possibilities which exist; she encourages teachers to challenge the status quo. She discusses the necessity to replace elements of the curriculum and offers thought provoking questions which should be examined in the pursuit to do so. The development of an updated curriculum which embraces both an understanding and appreciation of other cultures, encourages both teachers and students to rid themsleves of the traditional ethnocentric view which we often possess of the world and our place in it. Students need to be provided with authentic experiences to participate in the global world via collaboration with their peers in other countries. Sadly, one practice, which Jacobs refers to in her book, is the immersion of students in the study of foreign languages, something which is lacking in American school and under further threat of elimination with the current budget crisis sweeping the nation. Jacobs states that "If we do not upgrade content, then we are accepting slippage into the past." (p.59) With the high profile coverage of the "failure" of American schools, it should be obvious that curriculum, the heart of the educational system, needs to be examined. Jacobs provides a wonderful tool to start with.

Curriculum 21: essential education for a changing world

Heidi Hayes.Jacobs - Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development - Alexandria, Va. - 2010