ANDY NEUMAN is a key organizer working to imple- ment the global curriculum concept. The principal of North Vancouver's Ridgeway Elementary School says he is well aware of the cultural, social and economic complex- ities of such a proposition, but emphasizes that apparently in- surmountable odds are not sufficient cause for not trying. “Obviously we would need international co-operation. The substance and implemen- tation of a global curriculum would have to be negotiated as rigorously as we negotiate disarmament, trade and treaties."" Preparing the path to world peace is the first hurdle Newman sees: ‘‘I do not agree that man is instinctively an ag- gressive animal, nor do [ agree that international belligerence has reached epidemic propor- tions. While we seek political route to peace, we must also educate the next generation to establish and maintain a peaceful, cooperative world.’ | § Universal school curriculum is the brainchild of Dr. Maurice Gibbons, a professor of education at Simon Fraser University. According to Gibbons, the re-education process would in- volve curriculum vastly dif- ferent from anything now in existence. He envisions a course of studies developed around four basic principles: global citizenship before all other affiliations, membership in the family of the peoples of the world; responsibility for the stewardship of earth; and peaceful cooperation in both the solution of international problems and the development of our potential as a planetary ple. “Essentially, we need a cur- riculum structure that em- powers people for informed participation and action. It would begin with the study of the earth, its peoples and systems. This leads to an analysis of local and world conditions tc identify issues, to examine them in depth and to compile strategies for deal- ing with them. “The next stage is to con- nect with others locally and abroad; to establish contact, to share experiences and to work together with a common purpose. The fourth stage is devoted to direct considera- tion of the four principles and decisions about commitment to them as persona! and group guidelines for behavior. Final- ly, the focus would turn to strategic action to make a dif- ference." Gibbons envisions some unusual education techniques designed to improve student comprehension of the content Be Water Wise : When boaung, follow the rules and learn about local hazards such as tudes and currents. Trae ra date tes EC ys Qo ety and philosophy of the univer- sal curriculum. “Everyone has seen TV representations of war rooms where charts and screens show the world-wide status of various situations, and play out the results of various at- tack and defend strategics. A Peace room could just as easi- ra WOODCRAFT EXTERIOR STAINS ly be developed to readily identify and graphicaly repre- sent the crises around the world, trace out how they interrelate, catalogue the ap- proaches already developed and work ut new strategies for dealing with them.”’ Gibbons believes students should be exposed to nature's @ SEMI-TRANSPARENT OIL STAIN. North Vancouver 133 West 16th St., 988-0141 (Just West of Lonsdale) beauties as well as areas where human carelessness has caus- ed devastation. The ex- periences would be for the sake of underlining the need to preserve the environment and to make young people aware of the need to seck solutions to environmental problems. Neuman says the global cur- @ SEMI-TRANSPARENT OIL DECK STAIN. @ SOLID COLOUR OIL STAIN. @ SOLID COLOUR LATEX STAIN. SALE ENDS SOON! C—)