FOSTERING GLOBAL COMPETENCY
encouraged to explore , empowered to lead Director of Global Studies Kelly Neely reflects on fostering global competency in our students and why it matters
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n an increasingly interconnected and interdependent world, our students are tasked with constructing an increasingly complex understanding of citizenship for both themselves and others. They may feel a sense of belonging to their local municipalities, their countries of origin and residence, and in the larger global community. If we are to help them to rise to this challenge, we must provide them with an education that allows them to sift through and make sense of these layers of belonging. At the same time, we must help them build the skills and habits of mind to investigate the world beyond their immediate environment,
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do we help young people prepare for the responsibilities that align with their rights and obligations as citizens of the world? At Brimmer, we recognize this calling as part of our mission, in which we strive to “develop lifelong learners who are informed, engaged, and ethical citizens and leaders in our diverse world.” Global education flows like a current through the School’s multi-layered curriculum and is evident in and out of the classroom in myriad ways. This begins in the Lower School, where students learn about the continents and study the geography and cultures of various countries. They begin their
Our hope as educators is that our students feel empowered to be active, ethical, and engaged citizens and leaders, rather than passive participants.
recognize their own perspectives and those of others, communicate their ideas with diverse audiences, and take positive action.* As citizens of these multiple spheres, our hope as educators is that they feel empowered to be active, ethical, and engaged members and leaders, rather than passive participants. How
study of world languages in Pre-Kindergarten and continue this practice through the Middle and Upper Schools. When students are given access to the wider world, they are inspired to cultivate a sense of curiosity, ask questions, and develop empathy for those whose lives may be different from their own.
Above: Global Studies students toured the powerful ICA Boston exhibit “When Home Won’t Let You Stay: Migration Through Contemporary Art” including this Reena Saini Kallat installation entitled “Woven Chronicle”
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Spring 2020
Brimmer Magazine
This continues in the Middle School, where students learn about world religions to understand the perspectives held within various belief systems as a gateway to understanding ancient civilizations, including China, Egypt, and Mesopotamia in their sixthgrade humanities classes. They culminate the year by studying the legacy of Ancient Greece on our world today, focusing on the realms of government, philosophy, and culture. In their seventh-grade study of U.S. history and literature, students focus on civics and learn about the responsibilities of citizenship within the context of building our nation’s
