At Hakuba International School, we actively seek, welcome, and celebrate diversity in its many forms. We see diversity as an expression of human richness, a critical ingredient for an excellent education, and a source of great strength. As we discover each other and adapt to each other’s uniqueness, we become wiser, more capable, and more ready for the complexity of our world.

As one element of this policy, we do not discriminate on the basis of race, colour, national or ethnic origin, disability, religion, family structure, sexual orientation, or gender identity or expression. And we recognize that avoiding discrimination is only the first step toward a more equitable and inclusive world.

We live in a world in which systems of oppression, marginalisation, and inequity are all around us, and we know that it takes careful choices and hard work to disrupt these systems. We approach this in part through our inquiry-based and project-based classes, which provide chances to study systemic inequities and to understand and appreciate human differences. We also use the tools of systems thinking, through a school-wide engagement with MIT’s Compassionate Systems Framework program, to help students and adults understand the systems we find ourselves in and learn how to change them.

Our central question as a school is: What kind of education enables people and the planet to flourish? We believe that seeking and celebrating diversity, creating a safe and inclusive community, and fighting for greater equity in the world are essential steps toward this vision of human and environmental flourishing.