EDUCATION AND IMMIGRATION IN SPAIN

Immigration, which is a phenomenon of a great importance (without integration social peace and safety from crime are not possible) has burst into the Spanish society without proper planning and, as other similar topics, has posed many questions. The real fact is that our country is an important destination for the immigrants. Therefore, to face this unstoppable event, the Spanish society is not only in need of an adequate training of all its population mainly focused on a attitude change, but also the right infrastructure. Immigration shows the evidence of diversity. The coming of the immigrants not only creates new problems, but also forces us to consider and reformulate some of the old ones. To sum up, the differences, on one hand, claim to be recognized and valued by the institution of the school and its culture and, on the other hand, to be incorporated on them. It implies something else than tolerance because, apart from not prosecuting them, it means to admit they have valuable ingredients that can be enjoyed by the dominant culture and the school itself. It also implies a reformulation of teaching contents and practice, thinking of every student. Diversity, considered as a positive value, implies the orientation of teaching towards equality, justice and freedom, so it is necessary to acquire a permanent compromise with minorities and their cultures. There is an attached research on the attitudes of the teachers towards intercultural issues, which can lead us to reflect about the current situation and the need to offer the right teaching context to reach a real attention to diversity, without any kind of cultural discrimination.