ABSTRACT
Although the work of the Spindlers is often associated with educational anthropology, they have also made significant contributions to Native American studies, psychological anthropology, European studies, and anthropology in general. The contributions of the Spindlers can be seen from many vantage points: that of the publishers, the students, other anthropologists outside of educational anthropology, or finally from the perspective of educational ethnographers. In the specific context of educational research some of the concepts of culture have enjoyed significant continuity and consistency. This chapter raises issues about the risk of overextending this concept to a point that it becomes meaningless. The overall umbrella that integrates the conceptual models developed by the Spindlers is constituted by the concepts of cultural transmission and cultural dialogue as dynamic processes through which both individuals and collectivities acquire the knowledge and the motivation to restructure their cultural constructs and values.
