Introduction

=Introduction= from Saint Paul Academy and The American School of Bombay

//Photo to right: SPA global challenge students engaged in discussion.// Our Global Challenge 20/20 Project is the result of a thoughtful collaboration between two independent schools—The American School of Bombay (ASB) and Saint Paul Academy (SPA). Both SPA and ASB promote and demonstrate independence, integrity, and passionate learning in their classrooms. ASB is located in India, a developing country, while SPA is located in The United States, a developed country. The team chose to incorporate this context into our research and use it as an opportunity to compare the educational systems of the developed and developing world. In this way, the project demonstrates collaboration between the developed and developing world on issues which effect both the developed and developing world. We believe this type of collaboration is necessary to the success of the future global society.

ASB is a self-titled “U.S. styled school” set in the Mumbai community. This community is an integral part of the school’s culture. There are students from over 43 countries, as it is an International Baccalaureate World School. ASB obtained the first wireless network system in India, and it boasts a well-balanced American and IB curriculum that prepares students for life in an increasingly connected world.

SPA is a small private school located in St. Paul, Minnesota. It follows a curriculum that includes both core required courses, optional electives in all departments, and honors courses in Science, Mathematics, Fine Arts, and History. The small, tightly-knit community easily facilitates the school’s dedication to intelligent discussion both in and out of the classroom. Most classes are discussion based and integrate and encourage all students to learn in the style that best fits them.

As we discussed the individual issues we see in our respective educational systems, we found that these two very different countries and cultures in fact share many global issues in education. We specifically discovered accessibility and equality in education as issues in need of improvement in both India and the United States. In India, children living in rural areas are often deprived of any education, and if they are able to achieve accessibility, it does not necessarily guarantee success in the growing global economy of India. In the United States, dropout rates are high and education is often highly ineffective in the government-funded public school system. Although India and the United States each have their own unique cultures, bureaucratic systems, and challenges to their educational systems, it is imperative that education worldwide becomes a staple in the life of every child.

Personal introductions from both SPA and ASB
ASB Introductions

SPA Introductions