History+of+Globalization

History: How did we get here?
In order to value globalization and curriculum today we need to understand how the different definitions of globalization and how other historical events impacted and influenced curricula in the past and today.

Thomas Friedman in his book //The World is Flat//, explains globalization in three phases: first countries went global, and then companies and today individuals are going global.

media type="youtube" key="lp4znWHvsjU" height="283" width="378" align="center"

Changes in curriculum have been ongoing and have had outside influences before, but how has globalization made an impact on curriculum our priorities in our most recent past and today?

Our Canadian History
O`Sullivan (1998) states that in Canada globalization has been an ongoing debate for the past 30 years in the province of Ontario. There are two `schools` of thought regarding globalization and education (O’Sullivan, 1998). The first purpose is developing competitively capable students who will be able to compete in a global world by having superior knowledge and skills that will be in demand and therefore, ensure economic success for their respective countries. The second is not only to acknowledge the interdependency of that economic success but also to emphasize the responsibilities of social injustices. (O`Sullivan, 1998 and Smith, 2003). O’Sullivan believes we need to use both.

Global Competitiveness in Canada
Below are two timelines outlining the impact that both global competitiveness and global interdependency had on Canadian education and curriculum. On the timelines you can see the different documents and events that arose as a result of events both nationally and internationally that spurred global competitiveness and interdependency (Berthelot, 2008; Munday, 2007; Zhao 2007; Smith 2003 & O`Sullivan, 1998). Clicking on arrows on the bottom will show additional events and clicking on the individual events will provide you with further details. Should the timeline have trouble loading, you can access it __ here __or from the top of the widget. If it loads stating that you do not have permission please try refreshing the page.

What are some of the influences and events that have led to a global competiveness view? The role of business has always been a major player in this theme and when we go back to the turn of the 20th century, the Canadian Manufacturing Association states they fear that the competition has become so strong that as Canadians we must not fall behind and that we need to educate for efficiency. This falling behind mentality never really disappeared and after World War II the education system in Ontario was reformed to ensure education would meet the demands of an industrial society. Our politics and those of others also find their way into our curricula. Initiatives such as //A Nation at Risk// influenced the Radwanski report in Ontario where standards were implemented and the number of mandatory credits increased after the report was made public. More emphasis was focused on those subjects deemed important for the global competitive market. Provincial governments have also acted on their own; for example the Harris government who upon return to power made budget cuts and outsourced work. (O’Sullivan, 1998).

media type="custom" key="11093956" align="center"

Global Interdependence in Canada
In Canada the formation of groups such as the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have played a key role for global interdependency. These organizations took an interest in international development and helped shaped the paradigm of global interdependency to stand their ground with the more assertive and stronger voices of those favouring global competitiveness. In the early seventies, these two groups created the foundation of what would become global education. CIDA funded teachers to go overseas to newly independent countries and then upon their return their perspectives influenced others (Mundy, 2007).

Should the timeline have trouble loading, you can access it __ here __or from the top of the widget. If it loads stating that you do not have permission please try refreshing the page. media type="custom" key="11093894" align="center"

World Influences on Curriculum
Canada has always been a country influenced by others; it is no different when it comes to globalization and its influences on curriculum. Our neighbours to the south and their reactions to world- wide events have a particular influence on our own direction. The duration of the Cold War and the launching of the satellite Sputnik in 1957 set off panic in the United States that they were falling behind the Soviets. In the eyes of America, it was imperative that education step up to the task of closing that learning gap (Zhao, 2007). The end of the Cold War also put stress on the United States who had not been successful with its Vietnam colonization. They were losing confidence with respect to their dominance as other Asian countries emerged with their own economies (Smith, 2003). Perhaps the greatest influence in our curriculum is the result of neoliberalism that emerged during the reigns of President Reagan and Prime Minister Thatcher. Privatization, outsourcing and offshoring jobs is a result of their policies and continue today. Now there was a shift to knowledge having power, but that the knowledge could be found in other countries such as China and India.

Final Thoughts
How has globalization changed our priorities in education (i.e. how we see the purposes of education)? As events occur around the world, Canadians are impacted directly and indirectly through our curricula both positively and negatively. Economy has always influenced curriculum and will continue to do so – the question will be to what degree? For our Ontarian and Albertan colleagues, this has resulted in increased budget cuts and high stakes testing which may pave a road for other provinces to follow. Past historical events of globalization have and will continue to influence the curricula we have today in all of our provinces. The drive to ensure that students are prepared for the workforce is a consistent theme. Various business groups and politics reinforce global competiveness to ensure economic success for our provinces and our country. Although in its past, global interdependency has had to fight for its existence, it would appear that it may be gaining momentum as technology and the recent recession brings the plight of social injustice to the public eye. We see this daily in the news coverage of the Wall Street protests.



Reflective Questions
To what extent should Canadian curriculum be influenced by outside events? Should other provinces dictate what drives individual provincial curriculum?

Please remember to post your reflections under the DISCUSSION tab. After you have completed your reflection, please learn forward by going to the next page titled PEOPLE.