Respect for the Individual: The Core of Education for International Understanding from the Perspective of International Laws

There is a tension between "identity" and "diversity" in education for international understanding. If going back to the origin of the education for international understanding-international laws, we can find the juncture between "identity" and "diversity", so as to resolve the tension between them. In terms of the end of education, international laws clearly stipulate that cultivating and promoting respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms is the purpose of modern education. In terms of projects of education, human rights education, multicultural education, global and international studies education and national culture identity education in education for international understanding all reflect the principle of respecting for the individual in international laws. Education that respects for the individual is education for international understanding. In terms of methods of education, the principles of empowering teachers, "child-center", free communication and humane punishment advocated by modern educational method all reflect the rule of respect for the individual in international laws. In a word, education for international understanding is to understand the principles and values commonly understood by the world. There is no doubt that international laws are the common divisor of internationally understood principles and values. Respecting for the human rights and fundamental freedoms of individuals is the core of the common divisor. Implementing the principle of "respect for the individual" requires that everyone treats himself as method and we teach and learn by constructing meaningful, and autonomous communities.