Global Citizenship

Global Citizenship (Grade 12) 1/2 Credit

Prerequisite: Government

This senior level capstone course is based on the belief that education in a democracy must be what Alexis de Tocqueville called "an apprenticeship in liberty.” Analysis of historical events will be used to encourage students to learn the triumphs of history but also the failures, the tragedies and the humiliations including the repetitive nature of so many global issues from genocide to economic growth and poverty. Students will develop a global literacy (i.e. their understanding of self as a global citizen and their ability to work as part of a global community) and cultural literacy (i.e. their understanding of cultural differences and their ability to respect and value these differences in non-judgmental ways). Students will develop skills to examine history in all of its complexities, including its legacies of prejudice and discrimination, resilience and courage. Case studies in history will be examined and compared to currents issues. Students will be encouraged to develop a voice in the conversations of their peer culture, as well as in the critical discussions and debates of their community and nation. By studying the historical development of collective violence, students will make the essential connection between history and the moral choices they confront in their own lives.