“Free nations are peaceful nations. Free nations
don't attack each other. Free nations don't
develop weapons of mass destruction. ”
George W. Bush
“If we have no peace, it is because we
have forgotten that we belong to
each other.” Mother Theresa
“I have the same goal I've had ever since I was
a girl. I want to rule the world.” Madonna
“It has been said that arguing against
globalization is like arguing against the laws
of gravity. ” Kofi Annan
“I have sworn to only live free. Even if I find
bitter the taste of death, I don't want to die
humiliated or deceived.” Osama Bin Laden
George W. Bush,
Madonna,
Mother Theresa,
Osama Bin Laden,
Kofi Annan.
Now rank them in
order from 1–5,
with the most
internationally
minded person as
number 1, and the
least internationally
minded person as
number 5.
Across the world today you’ll find schools, both
international and increasingly in national systems
too, that seek as part of their mission, to help
children become internationally-minded. But
what does it actually mean?
As yet, there is no single commonly agreed
definition. To some, it may be defined around
themes such as securing peace and eradicating
poverty, whilst others may see it from a more
environmental perspective.
The term international is made up of both inter
and national. International understanding does not
replace a sense of nationhood with something
“bigger” and “better,” but rather uses and builds on
a sense of one's own national identity to
understand and work with the national identities
experienced and felt by others. We can, at the same
time, be Californian and American, British and
European, Nigerian and African, citizens of a
country and of the world. These are
complementary, not opposing, concepts.

“To be international minded is to realise
that an opposing and sometimes
offensive viewpoint, could be right”
 Globalisation
 Cross-world Issues
 The development of self
› “No matter how rich it may be, no culture embodies all that is
valuable in human life an develops the full range of human
possibilities. Different cultures thus correct and complement each
other, expand each other’s horizons of thought and alert each
other to new forms of fulfilment. In this way, cultural diversity is
an important constituennt of self making and human freedom”,
Derek Pigrum
“International education must be more
than the five “Fs”—food, festivals,
famous people, fashion, and flags”
George Walker, Director General of the International
Baccalaureate Organization
27 Jan – International Day of commemoration
in memory of the victims of the
Holocaust
08 Mar –International women’s day
21 Mar –International mother language day
31 Mar –Earth hour
21 Sept – International Peace day
Learning to know
Learning to do
Learning to live
together
 Learning to be




(Learning: the treasure
within, The Delors Report,
UNESCO 1996)
Celebrating diversity
Understanding
culture
 Global awareness
 Other ways of
knowing
 Shared humanity



(Trends in international
education and the IBO of
the future, George Walker,
IBNA, Quebec, 1999)
And now for the news…you come in the
morning, time for register and all the other
start-to-the-day duties. How on earth can you
bring international learning into this? Well,
whilst you’re busy with the admin, let the class
listen to the daily children’s news podcast
from the BBC world service. The 3 to 4 minute
podcast covers the main stories of the day, and
is bound to lead to great discussions and
debates afterwards.
Maps, maps and more maps…does your
classroom environment reflect the world?
Maps are a brilliant way to help children begin
to ‘see’ the world and from a range of
perspectives.