Around the World in 30 Days – July 2015

In Rupp’s new position, I learned that he’s working towards fostering multicultural competence and building more relations with underrepresented regions of the world. His goals are ones that all institutions should aim for. As he says, “Education that is academically rigorous, deliberately multi-cultural, and concerned with developing personal values that include a commitment to community service, is an invaluable resource for any and all of us.”
I received many emails in the past few months from scholars appealing Japan’s attempt to lift the constitutional ban on collective self-defense (CSD). If CSD is lifted, this could reignite participation in war for a country that has had its fill of battle. As I looked more into it, I was happy to support this cause, which grew to include over 9000 scholars. I talked to Dr. Manabu Sato (Professor Emeritus, University of Tokyo), who co-led the initiative called Association of Scholars Opposed to the Security Related Bills. Sato calls the bill “not simply unconstitutional but also an attack on the key principles of constitutionalism and the rule of law,” adding that we also need to “challenge the hypocrisy exhibited by many Western governments, including the US, that generally welcome the Abe government’s attempt to lift the ban on CSD, under the name of ‘pro-active contribution to peace’ through which Japan plays a bigger role in defending the ‘rule of law’ in the context of Asia’s maritime and territorial conflicts.”
In July, I asked our global teacher bloggers about a pertinent and poignant issue: bullying. Dr. Tracey C. Burns, a Project Leader at the OECD in Paris and a global expert on bullying, confirms that “a huge amount of political attention is being paid to the issue.” Statistics repeatedly show the prevalence of bullying in American schools, and new research suggests that social media has brought school bullying into the home. Many bold recommendations were offered from teachers, all of whom brought their personal experience to tackling this difficult issue. Guest blogger James Alan Sturtevant recommended reaching out to bullies – noting that “harsh consequences don’t always work, can make bullies worse, and sometimes evoke retribution for unfortunate victims.” And Pauline Hawkins cautioned that anti-bullying programs in schools will have little influence on students if the adults in their lives are not teaching and modeling respect.” We also heard from Australian expert Lisa Currie (Creator of the Ripple Kindness Project), who recommended the practice of fostering kindness in schools and offered many real world examples of how to do this.
While many think of New York and California as the go-to places for post-college jobs, a recent report has shown that actually Massachusetts, Delaware, and Washington have the most job openings per college graduate. I got to talk this month with Anthony P. Carnevale, the report’s lead author and the director of Georgetown University’s Center on Education and the Workforce. For parents and students anxious about the meagerness of today’s job market, Carnevale has given a report, which as he says, has “the ability to connect real people with real jobs in real time.” His report has remarkable findings that will be a boon to anyone who wants to know about the reality of post-college life. One of many insights this report provides is that “software developers, registered nurses, and managers are among the most in-demand professionals in every state.”
For more information, visit cmrubinworld.com.
(Photo is courtesy of International Baccalaureate Organization)

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C. M. Rubin is the author of two widely read online series for which she received a 2011 Upton Sinclair award, “The Global Search for Education” and “How Will We Read?” She is also the author of three bestselling books, including The Real Alice in Wonderland, is the publisher of CMRubinWorld, and is a Disruptor Foundation Fellow.
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If teachers of all ages inc.dyslexics used my Step by Step they would ENJOY teaching.The pupils would enjoy learning and success. The UK government finally saying “Teach phonics” then produced a ghastly “Letters and Sounds” based on 44 sounds>letters, with no rules! Phonics should be taught from 26 letters>sounds, with the rules!
Please spread this around.