"THINK GLOBALLY, ACT LOCALLY"

A sense of global responsibility is necessary for pursing global sustainability. We have all seen the bumper sticker “Think Globally, act Locally,” but what does it actually mean when mapped to everyday life? How do we instill a sense of this responsibility in our students? Important issues and obstacles interplay with our being effective teachers for this subject. Some of these issues include age, curriculum, parental support and involvement, and cultural and socioeconomic differences. Not only is the content a key issue, but also the timing of this curriculum. At what age do we begin our indoctrination? Should this be part of a stand alone curriculum or should teachers expected to “fit it into” their existing curricula? How can schools get parents involved and invested in this endeavor? Is it realistic to expect children and families from low income schools and neighborhoods to be invested in the global future while they are in crisis with their local present? The focus will be on the appropriate age for teaching global responsibility, ideas for implementing parental involvement with younger learners, and curricular activities for middle level students.