''Reflections over professional work in an intercultural perspective''

Because of the fact that Greece is a country with many immigrants is reasonable for schools to include children from other cultures. The state has progressed in several movements to be able to integrate these children in Greek schools.
Greece has not yet any immigration policy, no comprehensive legislation on the rights of immigrants, and no measures to ensure smooth integration into Greek society.Besides the state make some first efforts to integrate these children in the most painless way in the greek schools.
I had a course in my university which was about the intercultural education and in particular the inclusion of Roma children in kindergartens. Therefore we had organized a big celebration which all schools in the city and a group of Roma children with their parents and social workers were invited. It was amazing that all the children did all activities together and it was also touching to see that their parents were proud of them.Although there were cases of children showed negative attitudes towards Roma children.In my opinion the children in Greece are growing up having prejudices against people from other countries.I think that this situation is the result of parents lack of education .
At the end of that day, i realized that maybe we had done something very important,for those children who their culture dictates that they are not interested in school and they have learned from small age to fear it. Maybe it was the first step for them to realize that they can do wonderful things at school without being embarrassed and ashamed for where they belong.For those children who grew up with prejudice and learned from small not to accept diversity, was probably the first and only experience that dictated to them, that being different does not make you less able or unwanted.
What i learned? Children in that age,are affected by what they see and what they listen. What we can do is give them opportunities to experience new things, to live in contact with diversity and not afraid to it.Another thing is that to change the views of children must first change the views of their parents and this is only through communication with the teacher.
Through this experience i taught myself to keep my mind open.In that way i deduct minds of my students open to diversity.
The introduction of the intercultural dimension in Greek education system requires a continuous and systematic effort.