By Renee Worthing
Staff Writer
Technology bridged 515 miles between James Madison Middle School in Marlboro, Md. and Middle School of the Kennebunks, enabling students to participate in a May 13 videoconference.
Middle School of the Kennebunks, in the process of becoming an International Baccalaureate (IB) school, received a grant from the Education Foundation of the Kennebunks, allowing it to purchase a Polycom videoconference system.
The video system is used in various classes to videoconference with students in other communities and countries, including Canada and Japan.
“IB is the springboard to help develop the global citizens the world needs,” seventh grade global studies teacher Fred Myers said.
Myers is also the director of the Young Diplomats Club, a student-based organization which works to develop meaningful cross cultural exchanges and afford opportunities to discuss global issues and empowers youth to make a difference in the world.
Allowing Young Diplomat Club members to discuss global issues via the videoconference system was a step toward those goals, Myers said.
Young Diplomats Club and students from the Maryland school recently spent an hour discussing whether the Beijing Olympics should be boycotted.
Taking turns standing in front of the video camera to share their ideas, students were evenly divided in their stance, citing issues such as human rights, economics, politics, and cultural values.
“The Olympics are not about politics,” seventh grader Mylie Warlick said. “It’s about sportsmanship and fairness. It would be disgraceful and rude not to go. Saving face is important to the Chinese. To humiliate them publicly would be a disaster.”
Fellow club member Sabrina Kayser, 12, agreed.
“If we publicly embarrass them, they could become stubborn,” Kayser said.
She suggested admonishing China through United Nations meetings. She also said the U.S. could show its disapproval of China’s treatment of its citizens by becoming less dependent on China’s exports.
“We can afford to pay for American goods,” she said.
Some students said the Olympics should be celebrated as a worldwide sporting event rather than a political soapbox.
“The Olympics are an international competition of sports, not politics,” Zack Leighninger said.
He also cited concerns about the economic impact in the U.S. if China stopped exporting goods in retaliation.
“If [world] leaders do not attend, it’s not polite,” Saira Clayton, 13, said. She cited economic and environmental ties that could be severed in retaliation and said she didn’t think it would be wise to “anger” the Chinese.
But, she also said it was hard not to buy products made in China, although “the price is cheap because of sweatshops.”
Seventh grader Ella Mallory said a boycott would be appropriate because China provided weapons to Sudan and did not allow Tibetans freedom.
“I think not going will show them why we are mad,” Mallory said.
MacKenzie Rowe, 13, said the United Nations’ difficulties delivering aid relief to Myanmar – which has close ties to China – after the May 3 cyclone is another reason to boycott the Olympics.
“The Chinese are not accepting the right to honor religion and culture,” she added.
Students discussed whether it was “proper” for a Communist country to host the games because of what the Olympics represent.
They also talked about whether it would be appropriate for an athlete to give a sign of protest, such as sporting a T-shirt that read “Free Tibet,” and what punishment might be dealt.
The students determined China will be on the look-out for isolated incidents of protest resulting in tight security.
In preparation for the discussion, club members researched the topic, had frank discussions with Myers and read newspaper stories.
The Kennebunk students said their minds were not changed by ideas the Maryland students presented, but Ella Mallory said she was surprised to hear that China slaughters animals and people work in sweatshops.
“I didn’t know about that,” she said.
The Kennebunk students also said it was interesting to hear ideas from people of different socio-economic status, noting the uniforms worn by the Maryland students may have been indicative of “strict rules on other things.”
After the conference, Myers said he was elated.
“They expanded more on the issue than I thought they would,” he said. “They brought up things like Tibet, Darfur and the cyclone.”
He said club members have a passion for learning what is outside Maine’s borders.
“They are interested in current events and interested in getting involved,” he said.
He said because Maine lacks diversity, it is important to expose students to global issues.
“You have to do it in a planned way so you don’t scare them, but make them aware they can help,” he said. “A true global citizen starts with what you do in your own backyard, in your school.”
Leaning back in his chair with a wide smile, he said he was thrilled with the videoconference.
“This was the best experience in my 38 years of teaching,” Myers said. “This is what teaching is about.”