Education in Italy

The theories and principles introduced by Gentile and Lombardo-Radice into the educational reforms for which they were responsible in 1923 have been in process of gradual dilution since 1928. Gentile has for some time been engaged in politically innocuous literary activities; Lombardo-Radice died last year. Early in 1939 the Educational Charter (Carta delta Scuola), a translation of which is given below, was adopted not by educational authorities but by the Grand Council of the Fascist Party, and presents an outline of the general organization of the system of Education which will serve as the basis of a reform to be prepared by the Minister of National Education, Signor Bottai. The difference between the Gentile reform and the Educational Charter is that the former was based on the new cultural values of Fascism, which in fact had preceded Fascism by a generation, while the latter aims to incorporate the educational system more definitely and closely into the whole fabric of Fascism all its aspects. The schools, from the maternal schools to the universities, are to live and be inspired by the Fascist mentality as developed since the Revolution. Education, participation in Fascist activities, and labor are from now on to constitute a single unit; training for Fascist citizenship must extend from the earliest school years on, and the educational system is to be a single unit based upon Fascist ideals. Education must be regarded not merely as an obligation but as a service as important, for example, as military service and other civic duties. Hence no distinction is made between curricular and extra-curricular activities, and participation in education is accompanied from the earliest years to the age of admission to full citizenship (21) by participation in the Giovent[ugrave] Italiana del Littorio (G.I.L.) and the Gruppi dei Fascisti Universitari (G.U.F.). An essential element in education is training for labor. The Educational Charter not only has the strong support of Mussolini but is said to have been inspired, especially in its emphasis on labor, by Il Duce. It will be noted how instruction, labor service, and military training constitute the three essential elements to be stressed in education. New courses of study have been prepared for each type of school by a committee of thirty members including the Minister, university rectors, professors, principals, and educational experts.