Teaching globalization in high schools

At Dollars & Sense, we’re often asked if any of the readers in our book catalog are particularly geared toward high school students. The answer, sadly, is no. But for all of you who have asked, the current issue of Rethinking Schools offers high school teachers a good globalization course outline by Berkeley High School’s Jody Sokolower. The article, “Bringing Globalization Home,” is not online, but here’s an excerpt from Sokolower’s description of a family survey she assigned to her students (12th grade English language learners):

My expectations for this activity were modest. I figured we’d gather some information about natural resources and industry … and collect data on why people migrate. …but I expected many question marks on the surveys. …I was amazed at the depth of information we received and the time that parents and other relatives spent in sharing a wealth of experience and knowledge. …One pattern that emerged was how often families are separated by migration. Another was the career sacrifices parents make: Beza’s father had been a principal in Ethiopia but works as a teacher’s aide here; Maria’s father was an engineer in Pakistan, but here he does clerical work. …We got great information on resources, public and private ownership, changes in the economy—everything. As an engineer, Maria’s father had a professional’s understanding of energy resources. Jose’s cousin knew firsthand about NAFTA and how he and his family were forced off their land in Mexico when the price of corn fell year after year. Every family had personal stories and … information that contributed to the global picture we were creating. …This project made me realize what a mistake it is to ignore fmailies as resources. This is especially true for immigrant students, who sometimes feel that they must leave their family and culture behind to “make it” in the United States.

You can get a copy of the article or issue from Rethinking Schools.

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