Archive for December, 2008

Does Santa come to International Schools too?

Sunday, December 7th, 2008

Does Santa come to International Schools too?

 

As I watch the Christmas decorations spring up in the yards and malls around Boise, it reminds me of the perennial discussion that faces so many International Schools around the world; should we celebrate Christmas? Won’t it offend some members of our international community? Wouldn’t it be insensitive?

 

There are two ways of approaching internationalism. The first is to take the “lets offend no-one” theory, in which we celebrate nothing at the risk of offending one cultural group or another. This is the ‘dumbing down’ approach in which we take the lowest common multiple as our guide.

 

The other, and to my mind, more understanding, more sensitive and more educative approach is to “develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect” (IBO, 2005). This is the Highest Common Factor approach in which we learn about, appreciate and celebrate as many cultural festivals and events as we can.

 

In a truly internationally minded school, history, religion and culture are best approached on a series of levels in which students are firstly taught to appreciate and understand their own cultural heritage. This serves as the strong foundation on which an appreciation of other cultures is built. Secondly, they are exposed to the history and religion of other cultures around the world. Finally they learn to be able to compare, contrast and appreciate the wonderful diversity of peoples and cultures around the world.

 

 I stress, the importance of the first point in my list, for I have too often heard this approach being called “anti-American’. To really build an appreciation of other cultures and an ability to compare, contrast and appreciate the diversity in this world requires a deep-rooted sense and appreciation of your own culture.

 

So yes, Riverstone will be celebrating Christmas and helping our international students understand and appreciate its significance. At the same time, our international students will be helping us understand and indeed, celebrate other cultural events such as Diwali, Hanukkah, Eid Al-Adha and the Chinese New Year.

 

At Riverstone, we will not close our students eyes, but open their minds to the cultural richness and diversity this world has to offer. International understanding is a far better option than mistrust and misunderstanding.

 

Andrew Derry

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Good English, Bad Grammar

Monday, December 1st, 2008

Good English and Bad Grammar

Two countries separated by the same language: that was how I thought about moving to the USA as a born and bred Brit.

 

I already knew that a boot and a bumper on a car are a trunk and a fender. I knew that an entrée was not in fact a starter as the name might suggest. I knew that many spellings were different such as colour and color or gaol and jail.

 

I discovered that my spell check on Microsoft Word gives me a horrible red underline for many plurals such as: Curriculum and curricula, premium and premia, datum and data although to be honest that might just be a function of my age!

 

I even knew that some of the grammar was different; I take things where you might bring them and whilst I change ‘ice’ in nouns to ‘ise’ in verb, you do not. Americans are far more straightforward by sticking to ice – with one odd exception: Why do you change advice to advise but no other ice nouns?

 

The unfortunate thing that binds us together is the increasing and ever annoying poor use of language. This is universal on both sides of the Atlantic. Is it just me who is constantly annoyed by the inability of so many people to add a simple ‘ly’ to the end of an adverb? Do we really save that much time by saying ‘I did it quick’ or ‘think different’ rather than thinking correctly or, indeed differently.

 

I know some people would argue that it is merely a modern use of the language, and that in trying to be interesting and engaging to young people, correct grammar is ipso facto boring.

 

Maybe I am being a bit too traditional, but I firmly believe that as educators we have a duty to teach our students to use language correctly. Part of being well educated requires the good use of language to articulate our ideas well. Indeed, Superior communication skills distinguish the highly educated. As Aristophanes put it “High thoughts must have high language’

 

My last gripe for today centers (or centres) around the abstract addition of redundant words in sentences.  I cannot help think how powerful Martin Luther King’s speech might have been:

 

I, er, like, have a dream!

 

Andrew Derry

 

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