The
benefits of a Global Education, and in particular the SDJ’s current
relationships with China that will reach the students of the SDJ are
astronomical. It is the goal of our district to provide an excellent education
for all students, and here are a few ways that global partnerships help the SDJ
to provide that excellent education.
·
Increasing Global Literacy
In
today’s world, monolinguism is the equivalent to illiteracy in the global
community. By developing partnerships with other communities worldwide, our
children have the potential to develop and strengthen their competency with
other languages. This will provide our students with the future ability to
partner with other countries in business, politics, public service or any field
they choose to go into. Our students will be prepared to work with our quickly
advancing technology and compete in global markets.
·
Increasing Janesville’s Economic
Development
As
students come from other countries to study in Janesville, many of their
parents will come too. These parents are connected to businesses and other
sectors of their countries’ workforce. Through these relationships, the SDJ
hopes to strengthen Janesville’s economy, thus providing for our students
outside of the school day. The benefits of a strengthened economy affect
students’ home lives, as well as their school lives, but also provides positive
benefits for our parents and community members.
·
Increasing knowledge and skill base
In
regards to our relationship with China, the Chinese are the best in the world
when it comes to mathematics. By partnering with school districts in China, it
is our goal to learn what China is doing right. Through observing Chinese
teachers, we will be prepared to better educate the School District of
Janesville students.
·
Increasing Our Children’s Comfort with
Different Cultures
As
mentioned before, it is becoming increasingly more important for our students
to be comfortable with other cultures. Our world is flattening. We are becoming
more intrinsically connected to other countries through private business and in
the public sector. For our children to be competitive in the workforce, there
is a growing need for them to understand and be comfortable with a variety of
cultures across the globe.
·
Increase Our Children’s Marketability
Though
I’ve mentioned this numerous times, I want to repeat once more: a global
education makes our students competitive in the work world. We want our students
to be competitive with any other student worldwide.
Our
current partnership with China, and the potential for future partnerships in
other countries, is wholly based on the School District of Janesville’s desire
to provide an excellent education for our students. It is my desire to meet the
specific needs of our students, preparing them for when they graduate, head to
college or begin looking for employment.
