James Foley (left) with classmates Jeremy Osgood and Brian Oates at Kingswood Regional High School
The James Foley Global Citizenship Curriculum uses James Foley’s life as a central narrative to inspire students to reflect on their own sense of moral courage and global citizenship within a solid frame of historical context.
About
The curriculum is an elective course for students in grades 10, 11 and 12. It prepares them to be active, thoughtful participants in a world that is complex, challenging, and in need of compassionate and informed voices for justice and positive change.
James Foley
James Foley, Jim, was a conflict journalist captured in Syria while covering its civil war and tragically executed by ISIS in 2014. Jim’s work exemplified the principles of moral courage, compassion, and advocacy for those without voice, especially in regions devastated by war.
Jennifer Murray
Do Carmo
Jennifer Murray do Carmo’s and Jim’s paths crossed in Wolfeboro, N.H. during their childhood. She went on to become a Social Studies teacher at Kingswood Regional High School in Wolfeboro, Jim’s alma mater. After Jim’s death, she developed the James Foley Global Citizenship Curriculum . She’s now making the curriculum available to all educators.
We are grateful that Jim’s legacy perseveres in his high school alma mater and beyond.
Course Themes
Moral Courage
Central to Jim’s legacy and the course’s focus on challenging injustice, amplifying marginalized voices, and using democratic freedoms.
Historical Context
Students examine Middle Eastern conflicts, with emphasis on the Arab Spring and the Syrian civil war, along with its historical causes.
Global Citizenship
The course emphasizes global interconnectedness, cultural understanding, and the role of prosperous nations in fostering peace and justice.
Civic Action
Students will engage in local and global service projects, developing connections to community organizations to address issues such as emotional and physical well-being.