Global Perspective

Here we see the Caspian Sea with a view of Baku. One question I am to answer in this blog is: How does the experience of this trip inspire a global perspective in my classroom and school? I have to answer with another question: How could it not? Especially as a journalism teacher, I can see how my future discussions of free speech and the relationship of the press to our government will be drawn in sharper relief for me. But I have also seen how average citizens everywhere can work toward improving their lives, becoming more educated, setting goals, following dreams in different ways, with small steps that can add up over time. The college students in the Intelligent Citizen center, my host teacher Halima and her newsletter students, the young people taking extra English lessons, the journalists at the Media Centre, the Azeri English teachers spending their free time getting more training are all part of a world picture that will stay in my mind when I'm back at Cypress Bay High teaching my own students to ask questions, think critically, and look beyond our classroom to the world.