This article shows how the world’s institutional framework of schools was set up onthe basis of a homogenizing model that emerged in European countries. This model,which has kept its organizational foundation intact, is now faced with new worldwidenotions that allocate a new value to cultural diversity, yet failing to find a way toeducate children and young people under different parameters from the traditionalones. In addition, it brings up the issue that fundamental aspects such as the needfor equal opportunities and an equitable distribution of wealth and knowledge donot produce a response in many countries where formal education has been stronglysegmented. The paper ends by proposing the alternative of developing a kind of schoolfocused on creating educational environments that will encourage the developmentof human talent and the valuation of diversity.