Question

A growing focus on STEM-science, technology, engineering, and math- has brought funding and excitement for these subjects into schools. Meanwhile, the push for standardized testing is requiring teachers to devote a large proportion of class time to reading and math test preparation. One consequence of these dual trends is that schools are skimping on social studies instruction.

Mindful world citizens need, at a minimum, a general awareness of foreign cultures, a passing familiarity with geography, and a basic understanding of history. If you're not sure your child's school is instilling these basic foundations of knowledge, you need to support your kids' learning yourself. Daunting as this may sound, it doesn't need to take an inordinate amount of time and effort.

A good first step is to keep a globe or world map in a prominent location in your home. Whenever possible, refer to this resource in conversation. For instance, if your child is interested in a particular animal, point out where in the world it lives. If older children ask questions about the news, show them where current events are happening If your budget allows it, keep a good children's atlas handy too. This will allow your conversations to go into greater depth if your children show interest.

Children have ever-greater access to high-quality fiction about people and cultures around the world. If you're reading together about a foreign place or time-or if you see your older child picking up a historical or multicultural book--take a moment to find a children's nonfiction book on the same subject. If you don't have time to do this research during a family library trip, most libraries allow patrons to browse and order books online.

A careful reader of this article can infer that the author wants children to grow up to become:

a. STEM employees.
b. successful teachers.
c. multicultural patrons.
d. mindful world citizens

Answer 1

The author's intention is to encourage parents to foster global citizenship in their children, beyond solely focusing on a) STEM education. By utilizing resources such as maps and books that explore diverse cultures, children can become informed world citizens equipped with cultural empathy and ready for a global workforce.

Step-by-step explanation:

The author of the article emphasizes the importance of developing global citizenship in children, which is a concept that aligns closely with being mindful world citizens. The focus is not solely on STEM subjects but also on an understanding of social studies, which includes history, geography, and a recognition of diverse cultural perspectives. By keeping maps, globes, and children's atlases at home and encouraging reading materials that explore different cultures and historical contexts, parents can foster a deeper understanding of the world in their children.

This idea ties back to the greater goal of preparing students for a diverse global workplace and to be contributors to global solutions for issues like social justice and climate change. The aim is to create individuals who are not only knowledgeable about the world's geography and history but also possess the cultural empathy and analytical skills necessary to navigate and contribute positively to an interconnected global community. So the answer is option a.