An Ever Shrinking World....Education Goals?

New Course in Multicultural Education (started 1/13/14).

We live in an ever shrinking world. Therefore, from a macro perspective, what does living in a global society mean in structuring our educational goals?

          Structuring educational goals is a constant as an administrator.  We are continually working with and learning from the newest or latest that is considered 'best practice'.  The world we live in as suggested by the prompt is shrinking.  People from every corner of the globe reside in our country and attend our schools.  They deserve the best we can give them regardless of what  the law says we should provide.  World economies are also shrinking.  The students we teach will lead the United States into the future and to be one considered successful we must align our goals based upon the need of every child as an individual.  
Every student that enters a classroom is unique in some way.  The obvious differences are race, language, and sometimes religion.  Those quick to judge will not be successful in the goal to make EVERY student successful.  Americans tend to force these different students into a system of assimilation that does nothing to promote student growth.  The reality of our school systems and workplaces are diversity.  We spend so much time and resources attempting to create students into the image of our white protestant forefathers, that this in turn places students in an awkward position.  They become frustrated, shut-down, or conform.  Any of the previous choices can happen independently or all at the same time.  A true global society will never be obtained if we as a country and as educators continue down the same path of 'righteousness' that we have been leading students down for the past couple of decades.
          In Texas, the population of our students are changing everyday.  The ratio of White students to Hispanic students is shrinking and doing so at a pace that is alarming, yet we are using the same old tactics for educating as our previous mentors.  We must learn to allow students the opportunity to keep some of their identity.  Is it not only fair that they keep what they know and value it as important just as we want them to understand our culture and value it?  Teaching methods must change for this to take place.  Simple etiquette like getting to know students goes a long way.  I am not talking about learning their names and where they come from, but really taking the time to get to know them.  Once a mutual sense of respect is earned (and I use earned on purpose because it must be earned) then we can begin to teach students. 
          Eliminating someones language completely is a mistake.  I am not suggesting that students who come to America should not learn English.  What I am saying is that it is important for students to be able to share with us what makes them special and we need to learn to accept this.  For example, a student coming from Russia could be a gifted student who makes straight A's, become a National Merit Scholar, attend an Ivy league college, and go on to become a doctor if everything was presented in Russian.  This is a bright student.  Is it fair to 'hold' this student back academically because they do not fully grasp the concept of the English language?  We must find ways to help them keep some of their language or we are doing them a disservice.  
          In summary, I have been rambling slightly off topic, but the message is the same.  We cannot continue to plan and teach the way we currently are due to the fact the world is 'shrinking' around us.  Some of the greatest minds in the country are teachers.  Is there no way we cannot come up with better solutions then the current model?  Students who come to Texas from a foreign country and do not speak ANY English MUST pass a standardized test in English within 3 years or the school is considered by the federal government as not doing its job.  This my friends is ludicrous and ridiculous.  Our priorities must change.