Community and the myth of the ideal school: Circulation and appropriation of the Hamburg Gemeinschaftsschulen in Spain (1922–1933)

The progressive education movement was known in Spain from its very inception, and in fact many of its pedagogical theories and practices reached Spain before reaching other European countries. Yet traditional historiography has always maintained that Spain was never integrated in the progressive education movement, a misconception that helps explain the lack of research in the field. Recent historiographical research, however, has shown that numerous Spanish schools served as laboratories for the implementation of progressive education methods in the 1920s and 1930s. The Spanish educational system proved itself to be especially open to international innovation in general and Spain actually enjoyed a privileged position for the study of how innovative pedagogical ideas could be incorporated and appropriated. Proof of this affirmation can be found in the introduction and dissemination throughout Spain of the experimental public school movement of Hamburg known as Gemeinschaftsschulen.

This article will focus on the way this movement was received in Spain. We will examine the phenomenon from a double perspective, corresponding to the different positions that scholars found themselves in within the educational panorama of the time. On the one hand we will examine the role of the “grass-roots” educators who wished to change schools “from below”, starting with classroom practices. On the other hand we will take a look at the representatives of “high pedagogy”, who were intent on formulating a pedagogical theory on which to base a political–ideological model that would serve to change the school “from above”. Tensions arising among the different pedagogical groups, along with the ambiguity of the translation into Spanish of the term Gemeinschaftsschulen, led to the different groups appropriating the concept in different ways. The evolution of the term Gemeinschaftsschulen, from its original identification with a localised school experiment in Hamburg to its becoming a symbol for virtually all European school vanguards, will be addressed at the conclusion of the article.     

From Holland to Hamburg: the experimental and community schools of Hamburg seen through the eyes of Dutch observers (1919–1933)

In the period 1919–1933 the experimental and community schools in Hamburg tried to put into practice a new model of schooling without a set curriculum that was based on providing a considerable amount of freedom for pupils and teachers. These experiences were introduced in the Netherlands by way of magazines published by the New Education Fellowship (NEF) or Dutch journals edited by educationalists and university professors. The Hamburg schools were also visited by Christian Anarchist teachers who were connected with new schools in the Netherlands and who already had experimented with new ways of life in small communities. In this article we describe their experiences in Hamburg. Their observation reports would not trigger a growing interest in a social community type of schooling; in general Dutch teachers, even the socialist ones, did not change their preference for the traditional classroom system of education. More individualistic methods from Montessori and Parkhurst (Dalton Plan), supported by university professors and inspectors of education, were considered to have more potential for changing the classroom system from within.     

Religion Education teaching in Zimbabwe secondary schools: the search for an authentic values-oriented multi-faith Religion Education pedagogical model

Religion Education teaching in post-independence Zimbabwe has remained bible-oriented and confessional at a time when most Religion Education stakeholders expect an ‘open’, plural and authentic multi-faith Religion Education curriculum. Despite curriculum innovation initiatives aimed at introducing new approaches such as experiential learning, Religion Education stakeholders in Zimbabwe argue for an objective and plural approach that will address the expectations of a post-independence multi-faith society. To contribute to this discourse on the new authentic multi-faith Religion Education curriculum, an empirical study was conducted on a proposed values-oriented multi-faith curriculum. The data obtained showed that most Religion Education stakeholders prefer an authentic values-oriented multi-faith model that would contribute to the teaching of values such as citizenship, human rights, ubuntu/unhu, nationhood, etc. A values-oriented multi-faith approach is, therefore, proposed for possible implementation in Zimbabwe secondary schools.     

Exploring the ethical implications of MOOCs

Massive open online courses (MOOCs) represent a potentially exciting opportunity to use technology to realise many of the long-promised benefits of universal higher education. While there are many positive aspects to the MOOCs on offer and in development, there are also significant ethical concerns arising from various initiatives. These include the academic duties of care and integrity, commercial exploitation of learners, as well as research ethics concerns arising from the analytical and other work being done by academics and institutions. These issues are explored and a set of heuristics for individuals and institutions provided as a starting point for ethical analysis of MOOCs and associated activities.     

研究生教育国际化的比较研究与经验借鉴

美国的研究生教育国际化战略意识突出,教育政策法规及时跟进,广泛实行弹性学制;英国的研究生教育采取自由多样的授课模式和严格的考核制度,重视跨学科的综合研究。借鉴英美两国的研究生教育经验,我国高校应牢固树立国际化教育理念,加快推进研究生教育的培养模式改革,完善教育法律法规,切实推行并推广弹性学制;可尝试推进培养模式和授课模式的灵活多样化,整合跨学科、相关学科和新兴学科课程。另外,我国香港地区的研究生教育也有以下经验值得大陆借鉴：一是树立国际化的培养思想与教育理念;二是提升教师与学生的国际化水准;三是推行研究生教育体制改革与学科创新;四是设立与国际接轨的配套设施以及研究生质量评估体系。     

论贵州民族山区儿童安全教育策略

贵州民族山区儿童安全教育应该结合山区居住、生产、生活特点,以“火”、“水”的安全利用为重点,把安全教育与儿童心理发展规律结合起来,指导儿童养成恪守安全规程的性格,发挥儿童切身体验和经验的积极作用。     

中美高职教育与地方互动关系的比较分析——基于实践教学的视角

高职教育在高等教育系统中是与地方发展联系最为密切的环节,如何协调高职教育与地方的互动关系是当代教育改革与发展面临的重要问题.在我国,高等职业技术教育由各级高职院校承担,社区学院则是美国高职教育的主要承担者.从实践教学的视角分析中美高职院校与地方互动发展的关系,分析了中美高职教育发展现状,中美高职与地方互动关系在实践教学中的体现等问题.     

湖南庙前旅游资源评价与深度开发研究

庙前风景区位于常宁市东南部,总面积约42km2,其范围涉及7个行政村。庙前旅游资源有43种基本类型,主要旅游资源包括中国印山、庙前地质公园、中田村传统村落。依据国家标准对庙前旅游资源及其开发现状进行评价,该文认为庙前旅游资源的规模和质量达到国家优良级标准,但开发水平较低。在旅游需求不断扩大、旅游市场竞争日趋激烈的新形势下,庙前旅游开发要着力于旅游产业的转型升级。     

Exploring the Disciplined Nature of Self-Study Research in Teacher Education

This article reports a study of literacy instruction in our own elementary preservice program. It examines the views and practices of both the preservice faculty who teach literacy and a sample of graduates of the program during their first three years of teaching. The new teachers reported learning many things from their preservice program, including the importance of engaging learners, strategies for developing an inclusive class community, the names of high-quality works of children's literature, and a variety of general teaching strategies. However, there were gaps between what was taught and what the new teachers wanted to learn. The new teachers struggled with program planning, desired more direct instruction on developing a literacy program, and wanted closer links between theory and practice. The teacher educators tried to cover so much material that the new teachers were unable to develop a focused, coherent pedagogy. The authors describe how they are revising their courses in light of these findings, modifying their approach to preservice instruction, and giving priority to certain key aspects of teaching.