Speaking in common tongues

I was delivering a workshop to the National Conference of Scottish EAL teachers today at Strathclyde Uni. It was about getting it right for every child and parent. Why would you ignore the talents and cultural richness abundant in your school? If a school is truly a partnership between the school and family then we need to celebrate and showcase what it is the families bring to the school and wider society.
I showcased what had happened (is happening) at one school I work at where I give the parents (and the children) the chance to become the experts in their Mother tongue. What happens is that they feel more respected and included and the whole school benefits from this expertise. More than ever we need to see the similarities in our difference. We are all of us different, we are each of us the same.