Izvorni znanstveni članak
Intercultural Education: a Challenge and Necessity for Our Multicultural Society
Micheline Rey-von Allmen
; Genève, Suisse
Sažetak
The paper first provides an overall review of interculturalism as seen through its reality and its projects, after which the author emphasises the role of education in the construction of an integrated society and intercultural relations. Teachers have an essential role in the acceptance of differences and diversity. Due to their influence on children and youth, they have a responsibility in the construction of conceptions and identities. The question of identity has a central place in the understanding and direction of pluricultural realities, since understanding identity is a key to facilitating or making barriers in regard to social discourse. It either fuels wars or facilitates cooperation. It is necessary to see identities as dynamic and interactive processes. They are built upon interaction, in both a diachronic and synchronic sense. When the context is changed, the pillars that support identity, such as – e.g. solidarity – are moved or else changed. Not only do individuals have multiple identities, but also in the construction of their identities they call upon elements from many cultures and re-evaluate them. Moreover, bearers of various cultures may claim the same cultural elements to be theirs. It is hence necessary to understand that cultural heritage has multiple ownership. Intercultural perspectives pertain to the organisation level as a whole and to all activities undertaken by educational institutions (just as is the case of all other social institutions). The paper indicates various directions pertaining to school institutions as a whole and to classes. It emphasises, among other things, that educational institutions (from infant nurseries to universities) are not just places of learning and in which knowledge is acquired, but also places in which one lives and gains experiences, places in which mutual acceptance and solidarity is developed. In this way, intercultural education must be extended to two dimensions: the dimension of knowledge and the dimension of experience, through which education becomes a part of life.
Ključne riječi
intercultural education; interculturalism; identity; educational institutions
Hrčak ID:
107350
URI
Datum izdavanja:
11.4.2002.
Posjeta: 2.752 *