So today was my first day of classes at UCT. I'm excited about my classes in general, but there's one thing that kind of makes me wonder and I wanted to run it by you guys. So basically all my classes focus on South Africa or southern Africa (though the course titles don't necessarily say so), and basically I'm just wondering if it's a double standard to expect American (state) schools to teach at a more internationally-minded level if the same expectation isn't really present in these classes. If I were to answer this myself, I think it seems like American and British (and other) cultures and perspectives are so accessible here that it's just as important to offer an alternative to them. Does that make sense? I guess I'll have more to say about this when we actually have class and I see how things are done, but I'm just kind of worried that UCT is way more western than I want it to be. Sorry, I dont know if any of that made sense, but I'll stop and maybe pick this up later when I know what I'm saying, but lemme know what you think.
:)
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Hey so umm I'm going to reply to what I think you mean?
I don't think it's a double standard because the context is different, i.e you have a british/american/western system of education that is extending itself by teaching about African issues. By all means, I am sure there are a number of examples of schools in SA that are British and teach things only from a British perspective ( I know it happen in Kenya, Olivia went to a British boarding school and was taught nothing but british history, etc). I guess also in general, the concept of "higher education" is a Western one, and is biased as such (reminds me of the debate between oral and written history, or how Plato is a staple of philosphy, etc).
Secondly, I don't think it's a double standard unless all your courses deal ONLY with South Africa. If they deal with issues on the rest of the continent, then I would say that it already differs from an American system? I dunno. The reason I'm inclined to say this is because there is a communal mentality in Africa concerning African politics and African issues, to the point where one would learn about the entire continent, rather than just learning about 1 country.
In general, I don't know if the concept of a double standard is helpful (so dont be too hard on yourself), because it seems to imply the comparison of two similar things. In that sense, I don't know how similar UCT in SA is to American state schools, because in general I think the lack of international perspective in American education is a product of the way America has isolated itself hisorically, and of the "superpower" effect - where a country's standing in the world comes to overshadow everything, and so the history and politics, etc of that country are treated within it's educational system as superior.
I guess in the end I think it's more complicated than just being a double standard, firstly because the context of education in every country is different. Secondly I think that the U.S. is a special case, in a way, because by saying that a more internationally-minded education is needed in the US, we are holding an educational system accountable for what America's role in the world (and therefore, American ppls attitude towards the world) should be. Which I agree with. Like, if America wasn't at the forefront of globalization and exporting culture and invading countries pre-emptively and adopting shitty foreign policies, then really this might be less of an issue.
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