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"The best international schools are the least international of schools."
"Community service programs promote the very values we don't want children to have."
"If you want to experience real international education . . . go home."
These theses are intended to provoke questioning, critical thinking, and friendly argument about what we are really doing at international schools . . . and how we might do things differently.
At last year's AISA Leaders Retreat we examined theses about governance, planning, and staffing, but we were not able to consider internationalism in depth. This year we return to focus on internationalism.
In addition to the above, some other theses for the participants to consider will be:
"To create a truly international school, look for teachers with no experience at international schools."
"International school regional activities programs help students stay culturally isolated while visiting other countries."
"Host country study programs develop negative attitudes toward the host country."
"If you want a true cross-cultural experience, turn to the culture that is most like yours."
"The concept of 'Third Country Kids' is a form of expatriate self-absorption."
"If we want to teach languages effectively, we should stop teaching them."
"Parents who work in development projects enthusiastically support their own children's community service projects that foster the very results the parents want to avoid in their own work."
"If you want to change the world . . . go home."
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