A global education is one that incorporates learning about the cultures, geographies, histories, and current issues of all the world’s regions. It emphasizes the interconnectedness and diversity of peoples and histories. Global education develops students’ skills to engage with their global peers and highlights actions students can take as citizens of the world. It is a lens that can be applied to all disciplines and all grade levels as well as the broader school community.
Why now?
Global learning is essential in the 21st century as barriers between nations and people continue to fade. From the information we consume to the business we conduct to the people we meet, our lives are becoming ever more global. The diversity of our communities reflects this reality as well. It follows that students need to become more informed and compassionate citizens, and teachers are critical to making this happen.
Districts, schools, and teachers will engage in sustained antiracist, antisexist, and anti-homophobic work through partnering with us and providing teachers with access to concrete options for advancing these aims. This work is not new for us; we look forward to working with educators as they move forward in their anti-racism journey.
Advance Anti-racist Education with Primary Source
Our programs and curricular resources mirror these values by addressing directly subjects such as race and power, LGBTQ rights, and cultural affirmation and engagement, and by developing increased knowledge and appreciation of minorities within and beyond U.S. borders.
These goals have informed and been embedded in our work for decades, whether in the form of “promoting multiculturalism and diversity,” “building cultural proficiency,” “educating global citizens,” or “teaching antiracism.” The core aim of amplifying voices and experiences that have traditionally been sidelined – and cultivating deeper understanding of the issues and perspectives shaping the lives of the marginalized – is baked into our approach.
Neither the history of racism in the U.S., nor the practice of antiracist teaching, can be learned overnight: Primary Source believes that educators need to build expertise through ongoing learning and reflection. Our programs and curricula demonstrate how educators can do this work in K-12 settings through confronting biases, breaking down stereotypes, and allowing people of all kinds to tell their stories from their own perspectives.
African American History is American History
African people first arrived here in the 16th century, and have contributed to the building of the country and its culture ever since. Four centuries of stories, experiences, and perspectives cannot be ignored; they are interwoven into the fabric of this place and they enrich our understanding of who “we” as a country are. We cannot dismantle racist policies and racial animosity today until we understand their roots and the ways they have become embedded in our society. Doing this work requires the preparation of learning about African American experiences past and present. Primary Source is committed to the value of this effort, and believes knowledge equips us to build a future that treasures African American people.
As an organization that supports educators in teaching accurately and inclusively about the United States, Primary Source considers African American history to be core to our mission.
What can you do?
All educators have a responsibility to create a globally inclusive environment for students. Schools, for example, can promote a more nuanced understanding of the multiple perspectives held by the world’s people. A global classroom can enable students to connect with other ideas and cultures as they navigate and evaluate a variety of information. Teachers of all disciplines can create meaningful learning opportunities that explore cross-cultural perspectives, draw from international examples, and encourage analytical thinking about global issues. Together, these global learning experiences prepare students to engage the larger world with greater confidence, thoughtfulness, and empathy.
All students deserve a high-quality global education. Working together with educators and schools, Primary Source seeks to make this possible.
