What is meant by cosmopolitism? Historically, the concept of cosmopolitism is referred to as “citizen of the world”. It starts with our family, then school, and then our country. I define cosmopolitism as a sense of home, not just referring to the physical place where we live, but also the place where we feel safe and nourished, like a school. An example would be a teacher who feels at home in the practice of teaching.
Therefore, home would have different meanings to everyone, as well as have different forms. Another term that integrates with this sense of home is hospitality. Hospitality needs to have a place in the classroom where it can be received. That place is called home. Hence, the aspect of co-dependency is born..
Change should be welcomed in teaching, even though change feels threatening. Creativity and ideas should have a place in teaching. The traditional teachers have a single outcome when faced with change: too often become violent as their advocates demand that other teachers drop their values and adhere to theirs. Traditional teachers think that for change to take place, they must abandon all their personal customs, beliefs, and values. This is not what cosmopolitism is. Never let go of who you are, yet being open to the new- that is what cosmopolitism is. Only when change takes place can cosmopolitism follow.
In education, many different learners enter the school gates and spend time together in the same institution. We should draw on diversity rather than repel it. When people from diverse cultural backgrounds meet in urban spaces (in this case, the school), they can dissolve cultural assumptions. Hence, learning takes place: cultural crossroads can be educational.
Cosmopolitan education is important since it promotes acceptance by using liberal principles of tolerance, meaning even if I don’t like you, I still have to respect you and your opinions. Secondly, equality and belonging in the classroom can lead to more participation in class, and learners will communicate more verbally. This will result in better grades. Thirdly, it generates opportunities for group work in the classroom. Group work is a vital part of teaching. Group work encourages engagement, which means learners will step back from who they are. Each learner will have a voice. For the educator to opens new doors and will ensure that bias goes not take place. The educator will see their students for who they are and disregarded narrowness ideas.
The notion and practical aspects of cultural diversity are key to creating better global citizens.
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Photo credit: Image provided by the storyteller.
