Europe and the European Dimension in a Multicultural Context

This article is based on research into the European Dimension in the primary curriculum undertaken through interviews with primary teachers in a range of different European countries (Denmark, England, Greece, Ireland, Portugal and Spain) during 1995 and 1996 (Ritchie, 1996). Key questions for the research included the relationship between the treatment of the European dimension in the curricula of the countries concerned, and the teachers’ own ideas about Europe and the European dimension which underpin their practice. The article concludes with a discussion of the multicultural dimension in the curricula, and the relationship between this and teachers’ understanding of Europe and the European dimension. Recommendations for curriculum planners, teacher trainers and teachers as a result of the research findings are included.