Why are we in dialogue?

As we approach a new era for European cultural and political cooperation and another step in the development towards a European educational space that will give rise to a new spirit and ethos within European educational establishments, we welcome the opportunity to offer some ideas and practices.

We promote the educational welfare of all children in Europe regardless of background, ethnicity, creed, financial status or gender. For most of the last century we have been pioneering an approach that genuinely attempts to work with young human being in an integrated, creative and respectful way.

A well-grounded and diverse dialogue is essential for all our futures. By developing concepts and practices about how citizenship, responsibility and freedom can best be fostered in the child, we hope to ensure a fulfilling and meaningful life for everyone. We feel the time is ripe for such a debate and wish to contribute to this.

We see the need for all those involved in the education of children to look beyond externally measured outcomes towards an educational policy and practice that takes the human spirit into account.

We celebrate the diversity and rich cultural tapestry of Europe and the child's essential immersion in the culture and environment of their birth. However we also believe that in a cosmopolitan age our children need a global foundation so that they can become responsible, tolerant and interested citizens of the world. Respect and wonder for the natural world together with a love of one's fellow beings is the foundation for a moral ecology to meet the challenges of an increasingly challenging and complex world.