Dare the School to build a new social order? La funzione riformatrice della scuola nel pensiero educativo di George Counts

Giambattista Bufalino

Abstract


The article explores the educational philosophy of George S. Counts (1889-1974), one of the most controversial and complex theorists, analysts and activists of the social reconstructionist philosophy of education as well as a pioneering figure in creating the social foundation of education in the first half of the twentieth century. To this end, the author adopts a critical-hermeneutical perspective with the aim of presenting the educational thinking of the American scholar. In fact, his views have continuing relevance to educational problems today and deserve reappraisal. In this direction, some foundational dimensions of his educational thinking and two more detailed elements of the contemporary pedagogical debate are discussed. More specifically, using George Counts’ writing and essays as the conceptual lenses, the article examines the problematic adherence to the principle of the ‘neutrality’ in schools as well as the enhancement of the role of influence exercised by teachers within the school community and the wider society.

Riassunto: Il saggio illustra il pensiero e l’opera educativa di George Counts (1889-1974), uno dei più controversi e complessi teorici, analisti e attivisti della galassia educativa dell’emancipazionismo e del pensiero libertario ed educativo americano della prima metà del Novecento. Nel presentare le concezioni pedagogiche dello studioso americano, l’autore adotta una prospettiva critico-ermeneutica e assume, come fonti di ricerca, scritti e documenti mai apparsi nella loro traduzione italiana, contribuendo a una rilettura pressoché inedita degli studi dell’educatore americano. In tale direzione, sono discussi alcuni aspetti fondativi del suo pensiero e due elementi più dettagliati del dibattito pedagogico contemporaneo; nello specifico, una critica del presunto carattere di ‘neutralità’ cui la scuola contemporanea dovrebbe aderire e la valorizzazione del ruolo di influenza esercitato dagli insegnanti all’interno della comunità scolastica e della più ampia società.


Keywords


George Counts; social reconstructionism; progressive education; educational reform.

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