Comenius Project Gijón, Asturias November, 2008 IES PADRE FEIJOO. GIJON 2008

Intercultural Dialogue

INTERCULTURAL DiALOGUE INTERCULTURAL DiALOGUE To attain a positive view of cultural diversity An attempt to know “the other” and its culture (s) With a critical view about ourselves and others Overcoming negative stereotypes and prejudice IES PADRE FEIJOO. GIJON 2008

INTERCULTURAL DIALOGUE It implies an appeal to equality and respect among all human beings A demand for justice To find and defend some basic values for living together And an ethic of minimum values

CULTURAL DIVERSITY CULTURAL DIVERSITY IES PADRE FEIJOO. GIJON 2008

KINDS OF CULTURAL DIVERSITY National diversity Ethnic diversity Underprivileged social groups National minorities Gipsies, immigrants,etc Women, workers, homosexuals, the elderly….

Past and present of our country Cultural Diversity in Spain

Medieval Spain Jews, Arabs and Christians lived together in the same territory. The Catholic King and Queen unify on the basis of Catholicism and expel the minorities.

Franco´s dictatorship imposed a model of state: monolithic, centralized and unitarian, persecuting all kinds of cultural differences. IES PADRE FEIJOO. GIJON 2008

TODAY´S DIVERSITY NATIONAL DIVERSITY: GALICIA, BASQUE COUNTRY, CATALONIA... THE GIPSY COMMUNITY ( PEOPLE) IMMIGRATION

TODAY´S DIVERSITY SOCIAL CLASS SEXUAL ORIENTATION GENDER

IES PADRE FEIJOO. GIJON 2008 As an example: The challenges of immigration As an example: The challenges of immigration

IES PADRE FEIJOO. GIJON 2008 THE CHALLENGE OF IMMIGRATION We were a nation of immigrants: 19th and 20th centuries.- America 40´s and 50´s.- Internal (from the village to the city) 60´s and 70´s.- to France, Germany, Switzerland…

DATA FROM THE 2003 REGISTER IES PADRE FEIJOO. GIJON 2008

TOTAL: IES PADRE FEIJOO. GIJON 2008

THE CHALLENGE OF IMMIGRATION ACCEPTING THE OTHER ACKNOWLEDGE THEIR DIFFERENCE LEARNING TO LIVE TOGETHER

What can schools do about it?

IES PADRE FEIJOO. GIJON 2008 Schools faced to minorities

IES PADRE FEIJOO. GIJON ST TASK: WELCOME THE OTHER socialize and integrate them provide means of acquiring the language guarantee access to the curriculum make school success possible

IES PADRE FEIJOO. GIJON ND TASK: AVOID DISCRIMINATION AND PREJUDICE Curriculum (inadequate images or distorted visions of their past or cultural tradition) Avoid reduction of their rights (different eating habits, clothing…) Religiuos rights Right to their native tongue

THE EDUCATION OF THE NATIVE POPULATION

Respect the other Appreciate their cultural features Learn to welcome the other Be active in the fight against discrimination Reject racism and xenofobia IES PADRE FEIJOO. GIJON 2008

SHOW DIVERSITY AS A RICHNESS Cultural difference can be the object of learning for all the students IES PADRE FEIJOO. GIJON 2008

Why is the topic Socially relevant?

IES PADRE FEIJOO. GIJON 2008 We come from societies that have taken pride in homogeneity Europe is in a process of unity on the basis of the accptance of diversity The Rights of minorities are expressly acknowledged There is a need to learn to live in diversity Discrimination and inequality are to be avoided Because we want to live in fair societies

Los hombres son todos semejantes por su naturaleza. Se diferencian por las costumbres que adquieren Confucio, siglo VI a. c Films and intercultural dialogue IES PADRE FEIJOO. GIJON 2008

INTERCULTURAL DIALOGUE AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO ETHNOCENTRISM ETHNOCENTRISM One´s own culture is the best, the model and reference for the others The solution to cultural diversity is assimilation A dialogue among cultures must be encouraged, based on mutual respect There are universal values and others particular to each culture IES PADRE FEIJOO. GIJON 2008 INTERCULTURAL DIALOGUE

Relativism versus Universalism Universalism Cultures are diffeent among them, each has its own values All the cultures are equally valuable and their traditions and habits should be preserved There are common elements to all cultures There must be some values that should be respected by all cultures IES PADRE FEIJOO. GIJON 2008 Relativism