The school in a global society
Schools are microcosms of the wider world and, as such, present a context beyond the curriculum within which pupils can learn about what it is to be an active citizen. Many issues present in the wider world are replicated in miniature in every school and classroom. Misunderstandings, arguments and debates, and even conflicts about the distribution of resources and power, are commonplace in the daily life of the school.
This unit begins by examining the potential personal, local and global implications of choices faced and decisions made during a typical school day. The starting point for this is an on-line quiz which was designed for upper key stage 2 (KS2) and key stage 3 (KS3) pupils.
Look now at the activity on the right, which asks you to try the quiz yourself and reflect on the personal, local and global implications of choices you face as a teacher before asking a group of pupils to work though the same quiz.
Activity Resources:
- Images
- Interactive
- Sound
- Text
- Video
Activity
Part 1: for teachers
- Go to the 'A day in the life' quiz at the Global Footprints website. Global Footprints
- Look at the quiz, which considers the personal, local and global implications of choices and decisions. Examine how it explores the local and global dimensions to personal choices and actions that a young person might face during a typical school day.
- Now consider some activities relevant to your working day as a teacher for which you have a number of options. Consider the potential personal, local and global implications of these options and the message any decisions or actions will send out to the wider community in terms of the school as a role model in a global society. The following questions and issues may help you consider the influences on the options you have and the choices you ultimately take.
- What personal preferences, habits, circumstances and so on, affect your decision making?
- Which options do you feel are outside your control?
- Who has the power or influence to direct your decision making?
- What is the impact of the social context in which you live on your options and decision making?
- What is the impact of the economic context in which you live on your options and decision making?
- What is the impact of the environmental context in which you live on your options and decision making?
- What is the impact of the political context in which you live on your options and decision making?
- Given the limitations, but also taking account of what is within the school's jurisdiction, list some changes your school could make to improve its local and global impact and be a more positive role model to the community.
Part 2: for pupils
- Having explored this activity yourself, now ask a group of upper KS2 pupils to work through the same quiz. Discuss with them the idea of the personal, local and global implications of decisions they make.
- From pupils' own activities during a typical school day, select one activity for which the group can consider potential personal, local and global implications and outcomes. It is important that pupils appreciate the different levels, and potentially wide implications, of decisions and actions that individuals and groups in society take, including decisions taken in school.
- You might want to explore with pupils, in simplified terms, some of the issues and questions you considered when carrying out this activity. This could usefully be done with your school council to help encourage a more global perspective on issues they discuss and decisions they make.
