Naturalism and Activism in Education: Rousseau's Influence

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Naturalism in Education

Naturalism occupies a privileged place in education, seen as an agent of development, momentum, and progress. Rousseau, in his educational philosophy, disagreed with John Locke (author of Some Thoughts Concerning Education), whose work may have reached Rousseau in French translation.

Rousseau's Emile

Emile is Rousseau's seminal work, a philosophical narrative based on the principle of nature. Emile is a revolutionary manifesto. In June 1762, the French Parliament condemned it to be burned and ordered the capture of its author.

Principal Theses of Emile

  • The child is the focus of the school.
  • Education is based on the interests of the learner.
  • Three classes of education: of nature, of things, and of men.
  • In Emile, religious sentiment is cultivated without fanaticism.

Note: In Emile, Rousseau defends reverential submission of women to their husbands.

Activism in Education

The term "Alexandrinism" derives from the famous city of Alexandria, which represented Hellenism in Egypt and owned one of the finest libraries of the ancient world. Hence, the relationship between Alexandrinism and traditional education, in which data storage favors memorization. The Alexandrine school is opposed to the New School or Active School, in contrast to traditional education.

Precursors of the New School

The precursors of the New School include Tolstoy and Robin. Learning is a solution to vital problems. The student develops skills that provide the bridge between life and school.

Functional and Active Education

The style of active education is reflected in the manifesto of the Congress of Calais in 1921, which outlined 30 principles.

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