Today's educators bear a significant responsibility in shaping not only the minds but also the hearts of their students. Proverbs 22:6 says, "Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old, they will not turn from it" (English Standard Version Bible, 2001). This wisdom speaks to the enduring impact that teachers can have on their students' lives. In the face of socioeconomic disparities and linguistic and cultural diversity, teachers are called to be more than just instructors; they must become mentors and role models (Wren, 2021). This diversity enriches the learning environment but requires educators to be socially, emotionally, and culturally responsive to the unique experiences shaping their students' lives (Gimbert et al., 2021). According to Ramos et al. (2021), teachers must prepare and inspire students to explore topics and issues that extend beyond their local experiences. This approach integrates global themes into the curriculum, such as international economics, social and environmental issues, literature from different cultures, and world history. The idea is to teach students to develop social consciousness competencies and understand the global interdependence of other cultures and societies (Wren, 2021). Moreover, educators must intentionally design learning experiences that challenge preconceptions, encourage critical thinking, and inspire a genuine curiosity about the world. Through these efforts, teachers can guide their students toward academic success and personal growth, fostering continuous reflection to adapt their actions as they learn and grow.
References
English Standard Version Bible. (2001). ESV Online. https://esv.literalword.com/
Gimbert, B. G., Miller, D., Herman, E., Breedlove, M., & Molina, C. E. (2021). Social emotional learning in schools: The importance of educator competence. Journal of Research on Leadership Education, 18(1), 3–39. https://doi.org/10.1177/19427751211014920
Ramos, K., Wolf, E. J., & Hauber-Özer, M. (2021). Teaching for global competence: A responsibility of teacher educators. Journal of Research in Childhood Education, 35(2), 311–330. https://doi.org/10.1080/02568543.2021.1880998
Wren, S. T. (2021). Improving Emirati students’ social responsibility competence through global citizenship education. Learning and Teaching in Higher Education Gulf Perspectives, 17(2), 80–94. https://doi.org/10.1108/lthe-09-2020-0046
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