Does Global Competence and Understanding Really Matter?

Why should students and staff members at Eastern Senior High School know more about the world? Does “global competence,” the capacity to understand issues of international importance, really matter?

Oh! Are you reading this blog and you don’t know much about Eastern? Eastern Senior High School is a D.C. public school high school on Capitol Hill. Eastern, the “Pride of Capitol Hill,” has been around since 1890, but “relaunched” the school in 2011 with an International Baccalaureate program. I have worked at Eastern as a Social Studies’ teacher since the relaunch.

I gave surveys to both students and teachers at Eastern to get their viewpoints on the importance of global competence. Here are some of their responses.

EASTERN STUDENTS

Question: Explain whether you think it’s important to know and understand people and cultures different from your own.

“Yes, it’s important because it helps to understand other people and their ways of the world, which helps you communicate with them.”

“Yes, it’s important, because it can be a fun experience.”

“If you know someone’s culture, you can better understand them.”

“We share the world and we all should respect each others’ culture and nationality.”

“Knowing someone’s culture can help prevent you from saying something rude and insulting about their culture.”

EASTERN TEACHERS

“Understanding other people and cultures builds interest, empathy, and compassion for others.”

“We live in a global society and economy. Being able to succeed in the world requires exposure to people from many different backgrounds and an understanding of different beliefs and worldviews.

Question: Does discrimination and racism exist in society because people don’t know and understand each other?