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The UNESCO Courier is celebrating its 60th Anniversary. In a recent issue newsletter reflected on an article, "Cultural Continuity in a Civilized World," in one of their very first issues by the American social anthropologist, Ruth Benedict. The article, viewed in today's light, shows how little progress we have made in promoting cultural diversity. Here are some of her insightful observations from 1948:

"The cultural patterns which men in all societies invent for themselves and transmit down the generations have in each community a considerable degree of consistency within themselves ... and have to be taught anew to each generation.

"[Recognition of] cultural differences can promote international co-operation and cannot be blamed for the chaos of the world [as some would have us believe.]

"If we are to accept the different ideals and alternative social arrangements of the nations of the world, those of us who are professionally concerned with childhood education have a task which extends far beyond problems of curriculum revision. We need the clear-sightedness and the tolerance which will help us to appreciate the different kinds of strengths which different nations could contribute to the world in which we desire to live.”

The Courier editor observed, from a 2009 perspective:

"It is widely accepted today that a quality education is, above all, one that can respond to local learning needs. Experts also agree that literacy is most successful when acquired in the mother tongue. But in many countries — especially the former colonies — formal education systems are still struggling to become vectors for cultural transmission at the service of social development. Similarly, a number of 'development failures' can undoubtedly be explained by a failure to take account of the cultural dimension of development, alongside its economic, social, and environmental aspects.

"It is true that many elements of intangible cultural heritage are endangered today. All too often they are assimilated to unnecessary or obsolete traditions, with no part in the development of the nation and, within the processes of globalisation, they are of no interest to young people, whose attention is legitimately turned outwards, towards the world. It is clear that current educational systems must carry some of the responsibility for this attitude of the younger generations."

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