Did you know that November 12-16 was International Education Week?

Celebrating and Promoting International Education and Exchange: International Education Week (IEW) is a joint initiative of the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Education to recognize the global exchange environment between the United States and other countries.
http://iew.state.gov/

Maybe you'd like to try your hand at one of their global IQ quizzes?
http://iew.state.gov/quiz.htm
They include Geographic Economy, Cultural Geography, and Cities of the World.

There is a Statement from President Bush (PDF) which says:

Education is the gateway to a hopeful tomorrow. By learning new languages and experiencing foreign cultures, more Americans can understand the challenges of the world around us.

Isn't that the truth? Without that understanding, that personal experience of other cultures, we risk oversimplifying things. We risk making assumptions that seem correct to us, as Americans, but have little to do with the reality faced by others around the world.

You can read Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's Statement too. It says:

In a world where challenges transcend borders, education is essential for making the world more peaceful and more prosperous. American students can better understand global issues by learning other languages and experiencing other cultures first-hand. Moreover, our country has no more valuable asset internationally than the friendship of the millions of young people, citizens, and leaders around the world who understand the United States because they have studied here.

Yes, I agree. There's no more valuable asset than the personal connections between peoples of different cultures. But, it must be a two-way street. Although Secretary Rice notes that this year the U.S. awarded the largest number of Fulbright scholarships (for study or teachingn abroad) ever, it's still a rather small number given the impact of the world on the U.S. and the impact of the U.S. on the world today.

Governor Chris Gregoire also issued a Proclamation for Washington State (PDF). It states:

WHEREAS we live in an increasingly interconnected world and improving global literacy among our citizens contributes significantly to our nation's foreign policy, economic competitiveness, and national security...

For so many reasons, from peace to security, from economy to foreign affairs, it is time to take the time to learn about the world around us.

Over the next couple of weeks, I'd like to highlight some of the initiatives I've seen in the schools and community that are doing just that. Stay tuned, and if you have ideas to contribute, please submit your comments.

Happy Thanksgiving!