Well, I didn't post as much last week as I normally do, and that's because I went to New York to talk to the Foreign Policy Association's Teacher Training Institute about Central Asia. What a great group of teachers! We are used to thinking that politics is something that happens on the world stage, but anyone who has stood up in front of a class knows quite a bit about group behavior, yes?
Anyway, in two day's time these teachers from around the nation presented, listened to presentations, and then formed lesson plans in international affairs using all eight Great Decisions materials and topics–from one minute to the next.
I was thrilled by the interest in Central Asia in particular and international relations in general. Primary school educators in art and social studies devised plans that brought cultural art and artifacts to younger students and contrasted the life of children across the world. Middle and high-school teachers planned lessons that would have students confront not just Central Asian culture but their own. Issues of prejudice, gender relations, security and energy, human rights, rule of law, and other issues were tackled head-on in lesson plans devised on the spot.
We can look forward to future leaders coming from the work of these leading teachers–and, a far more sophisticated diplomacy-literate audience graduating from their classrooms. And for me, to be around such a committed group was inspiring.
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