Evening star., 1948-09-12

world citizen, which it proposes FOL
incorporation in the courses o1
every one of the Nations elementary
and secondary schools.
To help the teachers do this, NEA
offers ideas for curriculum changes
based on the experience of schools
already setting the pace in this
field.
NEA, Furthermore, urges Amer
ica's 100000 teachers not merely
to encourage world-mindedness In
the classroom, but to take leader
ship in the adult community in be-
half of international understanding
and to inspire like action on the
part of their students.
Report Takes Two Years. 4 z
MEAS unprecedented proposal is
set forth in a 24l page report OF
three of it's committees, entitled,
Education for International I'm
derstanding in American Schools. y
Financed jointly by NEA and the
Carnegie Corp. of New York, the
report took two years to produce
and reflects the thinking of more
than $50 educators, public leaders
and students who were called on for
ideas and criticism.
"The long-range goal of educa-
ton for international understand
ing" explains the report. lis Worlo
peace and human welfare, achieved
and maintained through a peaceful
world order operating through in
ternational organizations. The i'm
mediate purpose of such education
is the development Of American
citizens who are conscious OF thelf
new obligations to mankind
who see beyond the confines OF their
own nation and its problems.
The world-minded citizen, the re-
port states, is concerned with the
advancement of human welfare not
only In America, but throughout the
world. He believes not in unlimited
national sovereignty, economic SELF.
sufaciency or the inevitability OF
war. but rather in the value OF in
ternational cooperation and the
unfolding of essential freedoms
everywhere.
Task Handed to Schools.
Americas teachers, the report
contends, are not yet doing enough
to create such world-minded citl-
zens. SCHOOLS have not as yet
tapped the full range of experiences
which may be utilized in developing
increased international understand
ing on the part of the people OF the
United States" it declares. schools
must assume full responsibility Tor
helping all children, youth, and
adults to have experiences which
will advance understanding OF IN
ternational affairs"
The report urges revision OF the
school curriculum to provide such
learning experiences, and also
Stresses the need for program that
moves beyond the conventional
school l-community relationships and
organizations, so that the schools
become community centers for de-
yelopment of the new understand
ing.
Teachers" the report adds, can
not be content merely to do as much
is others: they must do more" They
are urged to exert their influence
Son the local. State and national
hver' in order Ito help shape the
total environment in which theil
pupils are growing up"
THE ultimate test for world
rnindedness for teachers as we'll az
tor children and youth and other
adults is the action which they take
toward making the world place
In which peace, liberty and justice
are assured. Little. as yet, has beer
done in this field" declares the
report
{ Calls for Change of Ideas"
The report acknowledges tha
many teachers may have to star
With a modification Of their owl
IDEAS before they can turn to re
nlolding the attitudes of their pu
pills.
World-mindedness, the report as
serts, does not conflict with patriot
ism, but only with blind" national
ism. Referring to the two dominan
world issues, the United Nations ant
American-Sov relations, it state
that Americans should not los
light Of the possibility of under
standing with the Soviet Union, bu
warns that any understanding mus
not involve "a compromise of prin
ciples";; and 1t urges emphasis OF
learning the facts about the Unitet
Nations without over or underestl