by Mary Anna Cimbaro

A home economics education is predicated on the premise that students will be taught global perspectives as they relate to everyday life and the family. Thomas & Smith (1994) describe the person who has been educated in home economics as having: “knowledge of global conditions affecting the family, including: universal cultural values and practices of families; global interconnections related to family life; present concerns of the family; origins and past patterns of family life; and alternatives and future directions for everyday living in families.  The educated person has the disposition  and ability to use deliberation, dialogue, and practical reasoning to expand one’s range of common moral understandings in working to build a world moral community (p. 23).”

My professional home economics teaching practice is built on this philosophical statement.  My personal interest in global education had grown from my experiences while traveling the world; working with international development agencies; and my interactions, as a member of a cultural minority, in a majority anglo/francophone country.

Making my home economics curriculum “global” is not difficult.  It is simply making connections (local to global and vice versa) whether they be connecting sandwiches around the world (sushi, tacos, stuffed pita, etc.); to a global connection of the clothing we wear; to connecting child labour laws in BC to those around the world.  Whether you are a seasoned teacher or just starting out, just remember that remodelling those traditional lessons is easy.  Smith & Peterat (1990) have developed a five step Lesson Plan Remodeling process that is simple and straightforward to use.  Give it a try and make your teaching more globally meaningful for your students!

References
Smith, G. & Peterat, L. (1998).Developing Global/Development perspectives in Home Economics Education. Ottawa: CHEA.
Thomas, J & Smith G. (1994).  Towards an Ideal of the Person Educated in Home Economics: An Invitation to Dialogue. Canadian Home Economics Journal, 44 (1), 20-25.

Some resources:

Vancouver School Board. (1996).  Bring the World into your Classroom: Global Education for Home Economics.  Vancouver: VSB.

Wells, Troth. (1996).  The Spice of Life: Piquant recipes from Africa, Asia, the Caribbean and Latin America, and the Middle East for Western kitchens.  Oxford: New Internationalist Publications Ltd.

Wells, Troth. (1998). The World in your Kitchen: Vegetarian recipes from Africa, Asia and Latin America for Western kitchens with country information and food facts.  Hong Kong: South China Printing Co.