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Global
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Congratulations to 2009 World Educator Award Recipient Ben Wheeler Each year, the World Affairs Council recognizes an outstanding teacher of the world, including global cultures, contemporary world issues, and world languages. With this World Educator award, the World Affairs Council acknowledges an outstanding teacher who makes significant contributions to international understanding in the classroom, and to the development of international resources for the benefit of other educators. The World Affairs Council is pleased to announce the World Educator Award recipient for the 2009-2010 school year, Ben Wheeler, from Explorer West Middle School. Numerous world educators were nominated by colleagues and organizations throughout the Puget Sound area. Ben is an exemplary world educator. He not only exposes his own students to world affairs, he also develops resources for others to incorporate global issues into their classrooms. At Explorer West Middle School he established Global Studies as the capstone (8th grade) social studies class. Through this course Ben found new ways to infuse issues such as world religions, global poverty alleviation, and global health into his classroom. For example, in one project students researched developing countries and then created fictional businesses that were required to be environmentally and economically viable, provide a structural solution to a problem, and improve quality of life for people in the community. Students then wrote a business plan and request for a fictional microcredit grant to support their businesses. After presenting their plans, students voted on whose plan would get funded based on how closely it met the standard of sustainability. Students made a real-world connection through this project by fundraising to support actual microcredit grants through an organization called TrickleUp that works in developing countries around the world. Beyond his individual
classroom, Ben has taken a leadership role in forwarding the idea
of global sustainability as an integrating context for learning
throughout his school and also for other schools interested in moving
to and beyond the green campus. Through his coaching and facilitation,
the Explorer West faculty and student body participate in school-wide
workshops on global sustainability. They have adopted annual themes
such as Global Health and Sustainable Design. Explorer West was
recognized in 2007 as a National Association of Independent Schools
(NAIS) Leading Edge honoree for environmental sustainability and
also a King County Earth Hero. At the 2008 Global Citizenship Summit
in Bali, Indonesia, Ben delivered the keynote, “Global Citizenship:
the New Patriotism,” the endnote, “Education for Sustainability:
If Not Now, When? If Not Our Students, Who?” and he led numerous
workshops for an international audience of educators from across
Asia. Finally Ben has touched classrooms around the world by his development of curriculum materials. He co-authored It's All Connected, a comprehensive textbook published by Facing the Future for high school students to learn about global issues and sustainable solutions. For primary teachers he authored Teaching Global Sustainability in the Primary Grades: A K-4 Curriculum Guide. This Facing the Future curriculum employs song, activities, and art to address global issues and sustainable solutions. These books are used by thousands of educators to bring global education into their own classrooms. As
Ben points out: At its heart global education is not about becoming
an expert on the facts of one people or many places, but about caring
for all people and places – whomever and wherever they may
be. Sound knowledge about a region is important, but what one does
with that information is more important. Global education is about
gaining broad literacy in global issues, heeding the call to informed
action, and finding lasting solutions in the triple bottom line
of sustainability: environmental health, social justice, and economic
opportunity. World Educator
Award Recipients:
The question for the 2010 World Citizen Essay Contest was: "Despite the ever increasing importance of understanding the histories, governments, and cultures, of people from all over the world, many news organizations in recent years have had to cut their foreign correspondent staff. If you were a journalist on an international assignment, where would you like to go, what issue would you cover, and why? The 2010 World Citizen Essay Contest received almost 400 submissions from 35 different schools from across Washington, from Arlington to Yakima! Each year the World Affairs Council hosts the World Citizen Essay Contest for Washington State students in third through twelfth grades. The goal of the World Citizen Essay Contest is to promote discussion among students, teachers, families, and community members about the ways that individuals can effect positive change in the global community.
The question for the 2009 World Citizen Essay Contest was: "Imagine that you are Hillary Rodham Clinton, the new U.S. Secretary of State and head of the U.S. Department of State, whose mission is to create a more secure, democratic, and prosperous world for the benefit of the American people and the international community. Describe one international issue you think is important today. Why do you think this issue is important to both the U.S. and the world? Considering the mission of the U.S. Department of State, what would you do about this issue?" The question for the 2008 World Citizen Essay Contest was: "In April, His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama (1989 Nobel Prize winner for Peace) will journey to Seattle to discuss and celebrate compassion in action with Seattle-area youth, educators, and policy makers. Definition: 'Compassionate acts are generally considered those which take into account the suffering of others and attempt to alleviate that suffering as if it were one’s own.' (From Wikipedia - as cited by the organization Seeds of Compassion) A) Considering the definition above, identify an individual who has been moved by compassion to take action on a problem. Describe his or her work. How did he or she demonstrate compassion? B) Now, imagine yourself as an adult. Following in this individual’s footsteps, what international issue would you want to tackle? Why is this issue important? What steps might you take to resolve the issue? Why does this issue awaken compassion in you?" The question for the 2007 World Citizen Essay Contest was: "The President of the United States holds a unique place as a world leader given the country's economic and military power, cultural influence, impact on the environment, role in public health, and access to technology. As such, he or she has the ability to set priorities and effect change on a global level. You have just declared that you are running for President. Describe the global issue on which you would focus your attention. Why is this issue important?" The question for the 2006 World Citizen Essay Contest was: "Imagine that you are a diplomat whose mission it is to represent a country to the world community. You and your fellow diplomats are working towards a better world for your citizens and others. Which country would you represent and what issue would you want to address? Why is this important and what are some possible solutions?" The question for the 2005
World Citizen Essay Contest was: "Imagine that you are
the new U.S. Secretary of State, head of the U.S. Department of
State, whose mission is to create a more secure, democratic,
and prosperous world for the benefit of the American people and
the international community. Describe one international issue
you think is important today. Why do you think this issue is important
to both the U.S. and the world? What would you do about it?"
The question for 2004: "According
to Refugees International, there are 30 million refugees and internally
displaced people worldwide. Washington State is home to the fifth
largest refugee population in the United States. Tell us the story
of one group of people on the move: Describe what caused them to
leave their home & propose a solution that might return them
there." The question for 2003:
"If you could have a day with any world leader from the past
or present, who would it be and what would you discuss?"
The question for 2002: "If you were
a journalist on an international assignment, where would you like
to go, what issue would you cover, and why?"
Imagine yourself traveling to Turkey this summer on an-almost-expenses-paid study tour. Funded by the Turkish Cultural Foundation and administered by the World Affairs Council, this year four Washington State area teachers will be journeying to this fascinating land where East truly meets West. The trip dates are July 26 to August 8. This summer (2010) these four teachers will gain knowledge of Turkey: Jennifer
Dunn, Franklin High School, Seattle Last summer (2009) these six teachers journey to Turkey: Rob
Hallock, Sammamish High School, Bellevue School District Two years ago(2008) these educators explored this exciting country: Erin
Lynch, Nathan Hale High School, Seattle Public Schools
Three years ago (2007) these four area teachers blazed the trail: Robert
Herold, Northstar Junior High |
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© 2004 The World Affairs Council of Seattle. All rights reserved. Last Updated: 6/16/10