Original scientific paper
THE CHILD (STUDENT) AS A PARTNER IN EDUCATION: A CRITICAL REFLECTION
Slavica Bašić
; Sveučilište u Zadru, Odjel za pedagogiju, Zadar, Hrvatska
Abstract
This paper is an attempt to fi ll the defi cit in discussions on the postmodern view of the child as a “social actor” and “co-constructor of his own development”. Although accepted without refl ection in pedagogy, and anti-pedagogical in its basis, this view is offered to educators and teachers as binding and is used as a starting point for the quality criteria of educational institutions and of teacher competences. Regarding the far-reaching consequences of the request “partnership with children and young people”, the author points to the boundaries of the term “teacher-student partner relationship” (Giesecke, 1987) and to the consequences of its use for all kinds of child-adult relationships. From the perspective of pedagogy, the question can be raised about whether autonomy and self-direction change sides and become an externally imposed
requirement or a norm if adults confront children and young people with autonomy and self-determination, and if they require, encourage or bind them to it. This norm, like any other, can become a great burden for children and can harm their development. Who, then, is to be held responsible for this?
Keywords
pedagogical relationship; postmodern view of the child; independence, responsibility; self-determination
Hrčak ID:
48439
URI
Publication date:
22.12.2009.
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