A Conservative Approach to Teaching Global Issues

A question comes over the transom from a professional publication, for inclusion in an upcoming feature: 

We would like to know what you think about the following question: "Is it possible to teach global issues in conservative context?" 

This is encouraging. It is new to see an educational field acknowledging that there might be such a thing as a legitimate conservative viewpoint. 

“Global issues,” for the uninitiated, usually means class time taken up preaching about climate change or pollution, “gender equity” (sexual politics), or “decolonization.” 

I leapt at the opportunity to insert a conservative voice. Although, to be frank, I may be taking a career risk. My response:

I think it is strictly speaking not possible to “teach” global issues in a “conservative” context. “Conservatism” means respect for the learner’s autonomy and for the host culture. Those who teach “global issues” tend to presuppose there is a “right” answer and a “right” opinion on these issues, and it is generally the opinion of the political left wing in their home countries. This approach is of course not conservative. Respect for learner autonomy and for cultural differences would mean the teacher should listen rather than teach—not imposing their own values. In most ESL contexts, the students know more about the host culture than the teacher does; and they may easily know more about global issues and global culture than the teacher does. Qualifications in TESL do not grant knowledge of global issues.