Developing cultural identity in an international school environment: Richard Pearce

Anyone associated with international schools is accustomed to being asked in what way the schools are 'international'. The explanation usually starts with a catalogue of nationalities attending, though we know as we speak that this cannot faintly convey the diversity of the community. In the same wayan attempt to describe the cultural variety of our classrooms usually begins with a national typology of school systems and cultures. This gives a useful guide to the backgrounds and expectations of the majority of parents, who had a national upbringing, but takes no account of the diverSity of cultural experience of their children.