I admit it. I was a geography major. I also admit that for a time I could not remember which side was which on the island of Hispaniola: Dominican Republic...west? Haiti...east? Hmmm...
Of course, geography is more than maps. It’s a complex view of the spatial relationships among natural landscapes and systems, and the distribution and movements of people within these landscapes. But connecting the geographic dots on a map is ultimately so important to kids' abstract thinking; the first step to eventually connecting the cultural dots.
Pull down the map. I know that many of us yank down that wall map at a moment’s notice, whether making a reference in a storybook or checking on where Johnny will be visiting Grandma. In Wisconsin, our city map makes repeat performances in the 3rd grade, the Wisconsin map in 4th, and the USA map in 5th. But along with these themes we need to implant, more globally, places for people and places for happenings on a regular basis. Continents and oceans are the guide points, of course, and we do a good job with these land and the water masses. Further detailed references, though, will make students versatile beyond the C’s and O’s.
We in the United States have some tunnel vision when it comes to other parts of the world. We are very large, wealthy, relatively peaceful and sometimes self-absorbed. We may have the opportunity for overseas travel or study, but usually happenings in other regions of the world are just small flashes of media bytes. We aren’t anchored well to other places and peoples.
On the other hand, the population of Britain is much better versed in world geography and, hence, world issues. The British Broadcasting Company (BBC) focuses daily on world regional news from all continents. Ironically, it is because of Britain’s long former history as a colonial power on said continents that school children and adults have more references and connections to the planet. The British Empire may have, at least, given its current students more proficient global consciousness. They aren't alone.
Haiti is our neighbor in the Caribbean; one of many island neighbors. It’s grabbed our attention because of the destruction of 7 on a scale of 10. Haiti is now on our mental map. The same seems to happen with hurricanes and tsunamis. The geographic radar kicks in at times of disaster. Sad but true.
Though this island neighbor is across a stretch of water from the United States, Haiti is close in proximity. Port-au-Prince is 713 miles from Miami, as the crow flies. That is less than the driving distance from Madison to either Washington, DC or Denver. Yet, for the most part, we don’t know too much about the poorest country in the hemisphere. (Ref)
~ French is spoken in Haiti-
~ the US occupied Haiti from 1915 to 1939-
~there are over 500,000 Haitian-Americans living in the US-
~there are over 500,000 Haitian-Americans living in the US-
So, this week we and media are surprised by the sheer number and density of citizens living in Haiti's capital, the lack of infrastructure, and the fact that “rebars” hadn’t be used to reinforce the cinder block and concrete structures. (Why this obsession with rebars?) The country has been deforested, leading to a wariness that further shocks will trigger further landslides.
The point is this: we often don’t reach out for information about other places and cultures, even our neighbors. There are 195 countries on Earth, all with history and culture. As the planet gets smaller and more interdependent during the pinch for limited resources, the task for all of us will be gaining the knowledge and understanding of other peoples. Pull the map for students - every chance you get.
Donate to the children of Haiti now.
