German reform pedagogy as promoting democracy

Authors

• Jyrki Hilpelä

DOI: https://doi.org/10.33350/ka.110646

Keywords:

german reformpedagogy Lebensphilosophie Jugendbewegung education of character education to democracy, german reform pedagogy, Lebensphilosophie, Jugendbewegung, education of character, education to democracy

Abstract

I examine the roots, the social environment, the intentions, and the forms of appearance of the German reform pedagogy. My frame of looking is that of democratic point of view. My works of reference are mainly documents and surveys of those who followed the movement of reform pedagogy near-by. Because the German reform pedagogy had a remarkable influence also in Finland, I put forward some characteristics of the development in Finland. In Germany, the reform schools made up democratic pedagogical communities, but they were not able to strengthen the vacillating democracy of German society as a whole.