A statewide committee of educators and business leaders wants to bring the world into Kansas public schools.

But it needs the public’s help to do it.

The Kansas Committee for International Education has launched an online survey to poll Kansans’ opinions on the importance of internationalizing schools’ curriculum.

“Basically, ‘internationalizing curriculum’ refers to infusing knowledge of the cultures, histories and languages of regions of the world beyond the United States into the school curriculum,” said Bill Tsutsui, a Kansas University associate professor of history who is on the committee.

The survey — at www.asiakan.org/survey — will be online until Dec. 15. Results of the survey, which the committee will use to suggest curriculum changes in schools, should be available in early 2004.

The committee, which formed earlier this year, is organized by the Kansas Asia Community Connection at KU’s Center for East Asian Studies.

“Kansas had $5.8 billion in exports in 2002,” Tsutsui said. “In an era of global security concerns, accelerated international trade and increased diversity, Americans need a greater awareness of the world outside our borders.”

Efforts for bringing global education to the classroom already have hit Lawrence schools.

Ann Bruemmer, director of arts and humanities for the schools, said a new course would be added in East Asian studies next year for high school students. But she said almost all social studies classes — including geography, history and economics — had stepped up their international components in recent years, from elementary school through high school.

“Globally, with the economy the way it is, there has to be an international emphasis on things,” Bruemmer said. “Part of it is, do we understand the cultures of the nations around the world. We need a better understanding of how to work with them.”