The Global Education Club

Why Have a Global Club?

"At Ecole Dickinsfield School we are building a nurturing community
which inspires lifelong learning and teaches respect and responsibility for self and others." 

As educators we are responsible for teaching more than just reading, writing, and arithmetic. We help students become aware, capable, and responsible individuals, who have the skills, knowledge and attitude needed to be useful and responsible members of our community. Since our communities - through economics, information, politics, and so much more - are now connected globally, it is important that students see themselves as responsible and capable members of our global community. This is referred to as "Global Education" in schools ("Development Education" in other spheres). Typically it supports educational curriculums, as developing appropriate attitudes and citizenship awareness is part of most curriculums. Global education is usually taught infused with other subjects. Or in our case, as a special school club.

Children are very willing and able from a very early age to understand issues that may seem to belong to the realm of adults. But all issues, whether hunger, violence, pollution, or homelessness, can be grasped by children. Their simple yet profound grasp of key problems and connected issues is incredible, and their comments are quite haunting.

Their natural response is to say "Why is this happening?" and "How can it be changed?"  When told they can actually do something to help solve the problems, their first reaction is hesitation, because they seldom have adults telling them they have the intelligence and creativity to actually make a difference. Once convinced of adult support, they become excited, creative, energized, motivated, co-operative, and achieve incredible things.

Children feel very proud of their successes. They gain an understanding of ways to create meaningful projects, they gain independence, and they use their creativity. They acquire empathy and an understanding of how we all need and help each other.

Through the Global Club and helping projects, children learn how to:
 

• understand issues in their own and global communities
• understand the greater world and how we are all linked
• understand how to be responsible and caring local and global citizens
• access information and resources on global and development issues
• develop empathy and compassion
• creatively brainstorm
• set a goal and reach it
• think through and plan all the steps necessary to accomplish a project 
• advertise (communicate) in different ways
• educate others
• make decisions in different ways (consensus, vote...)
• divide up tasks and take turns
• evaluate a project
• fundraise, count money and give change
• listen to and accept different ideas
• work together despite differences in age, grade and backgrounds
• give feedback
• encourage and cooperate with others
• listen to and identify multiple aspects an issue
• express personal opinions and respect opinions different from own
• resolve problems and conflicts peacefully in a group
• find meaningful ways to tangibly help others
• find meaningful ways to improve their self esteem
• understand how creativity, optimism and working together can change our world
• become conscientious consumers
   

"Education in the broadest and truest sense will make an individual seek to help all people, regardless of race, regardless of color, regardless of condition." George Washington Carver

Through the Global Club focusing on different problems, teachers, parents and other community members are made aware of the concerns and some basic information. When adults see children willing and able to tackle huge concerns like racism, war, and child labour, they can't help but discuss it with the children, and perhaps become a bit less jaded and a bit more hopeful. Adults' own understanding and optimism increases, and they become more motivated to make a personal difference.

    What is Success?    Ralph W. Emerson

To laugh often and love much;
To win the respect of intelligent persons and the affection of children;
To hear the approval of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends;
To appreciate beauty;
To find the best in others;
To give of one's self without the slightest thought of return;
To have accomplished a task, whether a healthy child, a rescued soul, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition;
To have played and laughed with enthusiasm and sung with exultation;
To know that even one life has breathed easier because you have lived;
This is to have succeeded

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Teacher Ms Cochrane helps facilitate the Global Club each year
and made this web site to celebrate the students' and teachers' accomplishments!