Patricia C. Dougherty-Wade
Comparative and International Education

THE IMPACT OF GLOBAL CITIZENSHIP EDUCATION IN AMERICAN PUBLIC SCHOOLS

The United States’ increasing diversity and global interdependence has prompted the need for citizens that can function in the world community. Global Citizenship Education (GCE) has emerged as a fundamental way in which educational institutions can foster a culture of global awareness, addressing the challenges of job competition in the increasingly global market as well as thriving in an environment threatened by overpopulation, resource depletion, and conflict.  GCE programs can be found on the classroom level through multicultural education and conflict resolution supplements, on a district level through teacher training, on the state level through grant programs and standards initiatives, and on a national level through nonprofit and government organizations. The research presented in this poster provides evidence that these strategies fall under the realm of GCE; however, since they are not labeled as such, GCE lacks a level of legitimacy. Reform and implementation have been inconsistent, unsupported, and without a clear definition, which hinders America’s ability to fully create global citizens.

To learn more, please contact Tamara Palmer at tlp205@lehigh.edu or 610.758.3226.