We Are CGS

This is the Center for Global Studies or CGS.

The Center for Global Studies is an inter-district, international studies magnet school that focuses on Arabic, Chinese and Japanese language, history, and culture. It’s located inside Brien McMahon High School, one of Norwalk’s two public high schools. We have students from all over Fairfield County, from suburbs like Fairfield and Darien, to cities like Bridgeport and Stamford.

CGS is a school within a school, which means our students are part of CGS as well as Brien McMahon. Students take their language, world literature, and in freshman year their history in the center and then take their math, science, gym, health, and electives in McMahon. They have the same opportunities as non-CGS kids, which means they can participate in any McMahon club or sport.

CGS’s primary goal is to prepare its student’s for a global society. As we go deeper into the 21^st century America is trying to create and maintain strong relationships with foreign nations. Issues such as water and food shortages, climate change, and political instability can only be fixed if we put aside our differences and come together as one world. We at CGS believe that the best way to start is by learning other country’s languages. Our students either study Arabic, Chinese, or Japanese, and a number of students study more than one.

A frequently asked question is: why does CGS offer those 3 particular languages?

Why do we offer Arabic? Arabic is the primary language of the Middle East with roughly 300 million speakers. The Middle East is home to a lot of natural resources and in the last few years that has been an increase in business opportunities. Knowing Arabic also opens up doors for government jobs.

So why do we offer Chinese? Mandarin Chinese is the most spoken language in the world. In fact, 1 out of every 5 people is Chinese. China also has a huge economy, second only to America. China is one of America’s top trading partners and so there is a tremendous demand for Americans who speak Chinese.

So why do we offer Japanese? Japan has the third largest economy and so just like Arabic and Chinese, knowing Japanese will provide young people with numerous business opportunities.

CGS further promotes cultural understanding through field trips, in school events, cooking, hosting and study tours. Three or four times a year CGS brings in performers from China, Japan, the Middle East, and other countries as well. We’ve seen Chinese acrobats, Japanese drummers, an Egyptian musician, Russian dancers, Indian dancers, and much more. We also cook in our language classes. CGS has its own fully functional kitchen. Our language teachers teach our students how to cook traditional food from shawarma, to dumplings, to Japanese udon.   

Since we’re an international studies school we have sister schools in China, Japan, Egypt, Morocco, and Qatar. Throughout the year students from those schools visit America and stay with CGS kids host them for 10-12 days. The homestays go to the hosts’ classes, extra-curriculars, and experience what life is for an American teenager. At the end of each stay, CGS hosts a pot-luck where there is singing, dancing, and lots of good food. Every year CGS also has two-week study tours to China, Japan, and a country in the Middle East. On these study tours students tour around the country as well as be homestays at one of our sister schools. These trips increase our student’s language ability and cultural awareness.

Most importantly, CGS is home to some terrific students. Our students are risk-takers; many current students were the only ones from their middle school and came in knowing no one. CGS students think for themselves, have an interest in learning about other country’s cultures, and are willing to work hard. CGS students are passionate, talented, strong-minded individuals who have a desire to make this world a better place.  

Pieces in the Game of Life

Having a voice is what makes us human. The ability to speak our minds and express our feelings through words is something that no other creature can. (Or at least as far as we know.) With our voices we are able connect with people, change minds, build bridges, and stand up for ourselves. Our voices also allow us to advocate for ourselves. If we believe something is wrong or unjust we can speak up and try to invoke change. However, the ability to decide what happens to us is a privilege that many Americans take for granted.  Nearly all humans can physically express their opinions, but not all people possess the right to free speech. In countries like Russia and Syria “freedom of speech” is not a natural born right. If people say the wrong things they can be jailed or even killed. They don’t have a say in a lot of things that happen to them, and can’t even complain about their country’s wrongdoings.

Like most people, when I think of oppression of speech I think of food. Specifically apples. I love apples. I pretty much eat one every day. An apple doesn't have freedom of speech. It has no say in where it grows up, when it leaves the tree, and whether it gets a career in pie, applesauce, or simply stays in its original state. An apple’s life is entirely determined by other things. It doesn't have the privilege of being able to advocate for itself.

Everyone remembers a time when they were afraid to do something. Maybe it was riding a bike without training wheels, going on a roller coaster, or sleeping over at someone else’s house. Regardless, we've all been afraid. However, we've been able to say the words, “no, I’m not ready,” and then been allowed to try the bike the next day or ride the roller coaster the following year. An apple can’t do that. Maybe it’s not ready to leave the tree and all its friends, but can it advocate for itself? No! If someone else wants to pick that apple, it is saying goodbye to the tree right then and there. The apple is taken from its home without warning and can’t prevent the situation from happening.

The oppression of speech doesn't end there. The apple is also unable to decide what it becomes. Its career goal might be to end up part of a piece of apple strudel, but it’s unable to try and make that happen. It’s completely at the mercy of its surroundings.

When people’s voices are silenced it’s like they’re apples. Without voices they are just flotsam in the sea. They're like chess pieces, their lives lie in the hands of others. They have no identity, no individuality, and no say in what happens to them. People aren't apples, they’re people. They have feelings, thoughts, and opinions, all of which should not be condemned.