Article
My experience in the classroom: A shout out to all international educators
ID # 3717
Some of my study abroad companions and I at the lovely Catarata de La Fortuna
Hello readers!
For those of you who may not know, I am a student with Carolina Navigators also enrolled in a concurrent class at UNC. The course has a service learning component, which means all students must volunteer for at least thirty hours during the semester. For us, this time comes from a mix of weekly classroom volunteering and presentations when they are requested. For the past several weeks, Ive been volunteering around three hours a week with two different groups of high school students at Carrboro High School: one in a ninth grade World History class and another group who meets once a week for an extracurricular global poverty reading group. During this time, Im able to see how international and intercultural education is functioning in a real life setting and am able to apply the theories that we comb through each week in the Carolina Navigators class. I would like to give a shout out to all the amazing things I have seen in the students, teaching, and encouragement all actively participating in making CHS such an amazing learning experience, especially the fantastic teaching and innovation of teacher Matt Cone.
In Matt Cones global poverty reading group, students are reading very dense materials that are frequently assigned in our college classrooms. Students are encouraged to see the complexities in situations and Mr. Cone makes it a point to explore diversity within concepts rather than presenting right and wrong answers. I was amazed that he had managed to coalesce a group of students, who are only sophomores, who are dedicated enough to come to school an hour and a half early once a week, prepared to do a quiz, for no grade. Dissecting and debating big names, like famous economist Paul Collier, and covering complex issues such as the function of aid in the global poverty landscape, these students never fail to be engaging. Although they are a great group in their own right, the guidance and passion of Mr. Cone takes their analysis and thoughts to new depths.
Our role as volunteers is currently informal. We observed how the group was led and listened to students discuss their materials, providing whatever insight we could. During small group discussions, my fellow volunteers and I disperse and help moderate the students. The degree of international focus in my high school was very different than what I am seeing at CHS. In the mostly rural area where I grew up, international issues frequently did not make it on the agenda and my interest in all things global didnt start until college. However, Mr. Cones class demonstrates what is possible in public schools, given the right support and motivation. Through networking and utilizing technology, Mr. Cone has managed to make connections which Im sure his students will remember for years.
During our first session at CHS, Mr. Cone explained why his global poverty reading group has achieved this level of success. He made sure to point out that Carrboro is relatively diverse. With a fairly wide range of incomes, their Academy for International Studies programs, presence of immigrants and refugees, and a close proximity to UNC, Carrboro is provided with resources that do not extend to the entire state of North Carolina. This has created an environment where innovations, such as Mr. Cones, are allowed to exist and move schools further up the spectrum of international education. This has made me more aware of how challenging teaching truly is, especially in the continuously morphing realm of international education and our globalizing world. For any teachers reading this, please know that your work has not gone unappreciated and that I hope you can all continue to innovate and utilize resources such as Carolina Navigators. For any students, thank your teachers, especially the ones who come early and stay late like Mr. Cone. Their job isnt an easy one and they definitely deserve all the thanks they can get!