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« Considering cultural characteristics and teaching universal values » This paper deals with the prospects of maintaining the cultural characteristics of the populations educated in the French Republic school system, which aims at universalism. First, we present the various dimensions of intercultural practices in schools as well as the relativistic principles, while pointing out their limits. The concept of « cultural identity » is analysed from a constructivist, interactionnist and ethnicity-independent viewpoint. Further, suggestions are made about how to build a culture of shared values and shared representations in a school environment, in our concern to respect both distinctive identities and human rights. The faces of heterophobia and ways of coping with it are discussed.