Opinion
Federal Opinion

Global Education Is Patriotic. Nationalist Rhetoric Does Not Benefit Our Students

By Homa S. Tavangar — October 24, 2018 2 min read
  • Save to favorites
  • Print

Editor’s Intro: President Trump recently railed against “globalism” and proudly labeled himself to be a “nationalist”. How do you continue developing thoughtful, empathetic global citizens in your classroom when the leader of the United States seems to deride what you’re trying to do? Today, Homa S. Tavangar, author of “Growing Up Global” and “The Global Education Toolkit for Elementary Learners," argues that educators can move beyond rhetoric and focus on what’s important in educating their students.

This isn’t the easiest time to be a global educator. Words like empathy, global, and inclusion are becoming politicized, and some feel that more challenging topics, like race, religion, borders, and refugees are nearly untouchable. But we cannot afford avoiding these important ideas for fear of being too political. If we do, our children (and our country) lose.

The recent rhetoric around globalism and nationalism reinforces a false dichotomy that so many of us have been working hard to dispel. When Donald Trump told supporters at a rally in Houston on October 22 that “A globalist is a person who wants the globe to do well, frankly, not caring about our country so much,” it felt like a kick in the gut.

Nothing could be farther from the truth. Why frame this as an ‘either-or’? Can’t we love our world and our country at the same time? Gaining a global mindset based on intellectual, social, and psychological capital, not being ruled by fear, is a privilege every child deserves. It makes our country stronger.

I take a stand for global citizenship, global engagement, global good, global caring, global competence, global know-how, global markets, global travel, global jobs, global friendships, global technology, global diplomacy, and global peace. No corporation or billionaire has ever swayed me to think this way; indeed, when students in marginalized communities embrace global and abundant thinking and skills, such as learning a second language, analyzing from various perspectives, or being comfortable working in diverse environments with diverse people, their prospects for college and career skyrocket.

In my definition of global citizenship, what some might call globalism, this also means that I care deeply, pay attention to, get engaged with, enjoy serving, am proud of and love: my country, my town, my community, and my neighbors. I remember the old Girl Scout song: “Make new friends, but keep the old, one is silver and the other gold,” and I apply this idea in my thinking and teaching: it’s not ‘either-or'; it’s ‘both-and'—inclusive, welcoming, and abundant. This also is the sort of mindset leaders are looking for to fill jobs in the new economy, to solve problems we’ve never faced before, using technologies that have yet to be invented.

I subscribe to a big idea that might help illustrate this approach: “Let your vision be world-embracing, rather than confined to your own self.” This inherently means I care about my country and community, and strive to think bigger than myself. Going bigger than my ego and fears releases me to make a difference and find joy. Doesn’t every American deserve that?

Connect with Homa and Heather on Twitter.

Quote image created on Pablo.

Photo courtesy of Asia Society.

Related Tags:

The opinions expressed in Global Learning are strictly those of the author(s) and do not reflect the opinions or endorsement of Editorial Projects in Education, or any of its publications.

Events

Mathematics K-12 Essentials Forum Helping Students Succeed in Math
Student Well-Being Live Online Discussion A Seat at the Table: The Power of Emotion Regulation to Drive K-12 Academic Performance and Wellbeing
Wish you could handle emotions better? Learn practical strategies with researcher Marc Brackett and host Peter DeWitt.

EdWeek Top School Jobs

Teacher Jobs
Search over ten thousand teaching jobs nationwide — elementary, middle, high school and more.
View Jobs
Principal Jobs
Find hundreds of jobs for principals, assistant principals, and other school leadership roles.
View Jobs
Administrator Jobs
Over a thousand district-level jobs: superintendents, directors, more.
View Jobs
Support Staff Jobs
Search thousands of jobs, from paraprofessionals to counselors and more.
View Jobs

Read Next

Federal Opinion A D.C. Insider Explains What’s Changed in Education Policy
The biggest thing that people don’t understand about federal education policy? How much the details really matter.
7 min read
The United States Capitol building as a bookcase filled with red, white, and blue policy books in a Washington DC landscape.
Luca D'Urbino for Education Week
Federal What Superintendents Think About a Steady Clip of Federal K-12 Changes
A state superintendent and two district leaders shared their thoughts on the latest changes coming from Washington.
4 min read
From left, Quentin J. Lee, superintendent of Talladega City Schools, Keith Konyk, superintendent of Elizabeth Forward School District, and Eric Mackey, Alabama's state superintendent of education, discuss the latest K-12 policy changes at the ISTELive 25 + ASCD Annual Conference 25 on July 2, 2025.
From left, Quentin J. Lee, superintendent of Talladega City Schools in Alabama; Keith Konyk, superintendent of Elizabeth Forward School District in Pennsylvania; and Eric Mackey, Alabama's state superintendent of education, discuss the latest K-12 policy changes at the ISTELive 25 + ASCD Annual Conference 25 on July 2, 2025.
Kaylee Domzalski/Education Week
Federal The Senate Passed a Federal Voucher Program. What's in It?
The measure would create a national program funding private school tuition through tax credits, though states would have to opt in.
7 min read
The Senate side of the Capitol is seen in Washington, early Monday, June 30, 2025, as Republicans plan to begin a final push to advance President Donald Trump's big tax breaks and spending cuts package.
The Senate side of the Capitol is seen in Washington early on June 30, 2025, hours before Republicans narrowly passed President Donald Trump's big tax breaks and spending cuts package. The bill includes the first major federal private school choice program.
J. Scott Applewhite/AP
Federal Senate Narrowly Passes Trump’s Big Tax Breaks and Spending Cuts Bill
The bill goes back to the House, where Speaker Mike Johnson warned off big revisions from his chamber’s version.
5 min read
Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., center, joined from left by, Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., the GOP whip, Finance Committee Chairman Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, and Budget Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., speaks to reporters after passage of the budget reconciliation package of President Donald Trump's signature bill of big tax breaks and spending cuts, at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on July 1, 2025.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., center, joined from left by Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., the GOP whip; Finance Committee Chairman Mike Crapo, R-Idaho; and Budget Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., speaks to reporters after passage of the budget reconciliation package of President Donald Trump's signature bill of big tax breaks and spending cuts, at the U.S. Capitol on July 1, 2025. The bill includes the first major federal investment in a private school choice program.
J. Scott Applewhite/AP