Education for International Understanding

Education for International Understanding

Introduction

Education for International Understanding means a cosmopolitan education which will produce a loyalty to world citizenship. There are some of the ways and means of organising education for promoting the feelings of internationalism and the teacher plays a very vital role in contributing international understanding

Definitions

1.Oliver Goldsmith

"International Understanding is a feeling that the individual is not only a member of his State, but a member of the World".

2.Dr. Walter H.C. Lewis

"International Understanding is the ability to observe critically and objectively and appraise the conduct of man everywhere to each other, irrespective of the nationality of culture to which they may belong. To do this one must be able to detach oneself from one's own particular cultural and national prejudices and to observe men of all nationalities, cultures and races as equally important varieties of human being inhabiting this earth."

Ways and Means for education for International Understanding
Education for international understanding implies the promotion of democratic citizenship etc. The following are some of the ways and means of organising education for promoting the feelings of internationalism :-

1) Aims
i) Promotion of world citizenship
ii) Promotion of world peace
iii) Promotion of independent and critical thinking
iv) Promotion of construction rather than destructive feeling
v) Developing the student's faith.
vi) Eradicating of racial, religious, cultural and national prejudices

2) Redesigning the curriculum
The traditional curriculum followed in our schools and universities does not fulfill all the possibilities of internationalism. The redesigning curriculum should enable our students :-
i) To learn that the earth is the home of man and other living things
ii) To gain knowledge about the world we live in
iii) To learn how to promote better understanding of the interdependence of the world
iv) To inculcate respect for all major religions of the world
v) To know something about the long strength of mankind to replace conflicts with co-operation
vi) To develop a desire and the simple skills
vii) Knowledge of various cultures of the world

3) Instruction in various school subjects
i) Literature
A UNESCO publication states,"Extracts from the works of the writers such as Dickens, Gorkey, Tolstoy, Tagore and Isben can be used to illustrate stages in social progress. So the best of literature of other nations must be included in the curriculum.
ii) Art
True art should be included in the curriculum. The true shape of human feelings should be depicted and shown in art. It is beauty involved in the art that is significant.
iii) Language
it can play a vital part in the peaceful intercourse of the people of the world. The study of modern languages should be the study of modern people.
iv) Science
Students should be told how the scientists of various nations have contributed in fighting against disease. He nourishes in his heart goodwill to the whole of mankind.
v) History
The field of history should be wide enough to enable the students to cultivate international outlook. History should be taught objectively and with a cultural bias. students should be encouraged to study newspapers and magazines.
vi) Economics
The knowledge of consumption, production, taxation, human resources etc can be given our international level.
vii) Philosophy
Philosophers throughout the history of the world have been stressing mental peace as the human goal.
vi) Mathematics
The language of mathematics is universal, with largely the same symbols, through out the world. It should be impressed that almost all subjects and problems lend themselves to mathematical treatment.

4) Co - Curricular activities

Co - Curricular activities which go in the school from time to time can be geared to educating for international understanding. The following activities are suggested :-
i) Celebrating birth anniversaries
ii) Celebrating international week
iii) Celebrating days of international importance
iv) Organising and running UN societies
v) Organising pen friend's club
vi) Arranging exhibitions
vii) Dramatic representation
viii) School assembly
ix) International games
x) News of other countries

5) Face to Face contacts
Face to face contacts are of great help in broadening outlook, breaking rigid isolation of individual nation's and in removing imaginary fears and grievances. The following activities are useful in this regard :-
i)International Camps
ii) Cultural and study tours
iii) Arranging visits and excursions to foreign students
iv) International youth festivals
v) Exchange of teachers and students

Role of teacher in International Understanding
The teacher is even more important than the curriculum because he is medium through which the curriculum is implemented and its goals are achieved. A teacher can make the following contributions towards international understanding:-
i) Broad Outlook
The teacher must have broad outlook among his students. He must have international outlook and world - mindedness to promote international understanding among his students.
ii) To understand man as man
The major objective of the teacher should be to enable children to "understand man as man", first then as a Indian, American, Jew, Hindu or any other
iii) Wedding out the idea of violence and war
The teacher has to keep in mind that , "since war begins in the minds of men, it is in the minds of men that defence of peace must be constructed." Every person should grow up with faith in man and courage in himself.
iv) Emphasizing peace
The teacher must emphasize that the maintenance of peace is the only panacea for all the ills of the present sick world and to build that peace in the minds of man is our major task.
v) Cultivating right values
The teacher should inculcate among children the right values of life, like co-operation, friendliness, love for justice, love for truth and love for humanity.
vi) Educating adult society
The teacher should make an all out effort to educate the adult society for peaceful co-existence and international understanding.
vii) Correct Interpretation
The teacher should not give a biased view of other countries. He should give correct facts, correct knowledge and correct interpretation of history, culture, life style etc.
viii) Use of effective methods of teaching
The teacher should teach in such a way that ideal of 'world citizenship','live and let live' may be developed.

Programmes suggested  for promoting Education for International Understanding

Programmes which go in the school from time to time can be geared to educating for international understanding. The following activities are suggested :-
i) Celebrating birth anniversaries
ii) Celebrating international week
iii) Celebrating days of international importance
iv) Organising and running UN societies
v) Organising pen friend's club
vi) Arranging exhibitions
vii) Dramatic representation
viii) School assembly
ix) International games
x) News of other countries

Conclusion

           So International understanding is the need of the hour. The International Organizations like UNO and UNESCO are doing their best to promote brotherhood, peaceful Co-existence among the people of the Globe. No discrimination against anybody or any nation on the basis of caste, creed and colour etc. should be developed in the pupil. Adequate knowledge and understanding of the cultures of different countries should be given in the curriculum. Critical thinking and clear outlook towards the different issues of the world's basic needs for effective international understanding.