Egocentric education produces ugly Americans - Editorial - Brief Article

Technos: Quarterly for Education and Technology, Winter, 2001

I recently advised a local school system undergoing a curriculum revision. Toward the end of the discussion on graduation requirements, I noted that there was not a foreign language requirement under consideration. A teacher serving on the panel stated that we needn't bother ... "because everyone in the world was learning English anyway." I couldn't argue that point. In my travels to Latin America, Asia, and Europe I have seldom been inconvenienced by my inability to speak other languages. I could always go into McDonald's or Pizza Hut and order American food. I could always find an English-language cable TV channel and a newspaper published in English. The world has indeed accommodated Americans.

Of course, America hasn't bothered to accommodate anyone else. Try stopping Americans at random to ask directions in Japanese or German. Try looking for signs in French or Chinese. Americans are incredibly egocentric--and this includes our education system. My teacher acquaintance is not unique. Very few teachers in U.S. schools are from other countries, and American teachers for the most part are not wealthy enough to travel the world in search of others' perspectives.

Our children, then, receive an education from one point of view--the point that says that America is the center of the universe and that all activities should be judged by their effect on us. A plane crash in India? How many Americans were on board? A recession in Japan? What will it do to the U.S. economy? An earthquake in South America? Put it on page three of the newspaper, because we don't really care.

The global economy may be a reality, and the United States may be the wealthiest, most powerful nation ever, but that merely gives us a greater obligation to help others. First, because it is the right thing to do. Second, because wealth and power engender envy and hatred. Let's quit teaching our kids that a country wins or loses the Olympics. Let's start teaching our kids that knowledge of others' languages and cultures is a very important thing. Our children may just lead us into an age of appreciation and understanding. Who knows? Maybe someday the United States could develop a real ally even without military assistance or threat.