An approach to the current debate on citizenry in its right to education: recalling Francisco Giner de los Ríos

Abstract

Being a free, active citizen is not an achievement that is unrelated to a context in which each person can be fully educated. A citizenry that has initiative and moves at the rhythm of a set of values that we esteem positive does not stem from a neglected education system. Education is currently a right for everyone without restriction or diminution in any group, but it is not enough to merely state it, we need the young generations to manage to actively flourish within a community and to learn to live alongside other groups that are different to their own. In this article an analysis is made of the construction of the idea of European citizenry in its recent history, and the thinking of Francisco Giner de los Ríos is recovered, especially as regards his idea of the «social persona» which is most useful to understand the nature of what we now call non-government organisations and the educational action they carry out.

Key words: active citizenry, right to education, Francisco Giner de los Ríos, nonformal education, citizen participation.