The Recovery of Freinet Pedagogy in Catalonia (Notes from Personal Reports)

Abstract

After researching records on the recovery of school practice based on the ideological and didactic Freinet legacy during the post-Franco era in Catalonia, we present this testimonial account in the aim of providing a brief overview of the historical situation of the major political changes seen after the death of the dictator, the agents and events that took place, and the vindicatory and reconstructive proposals in democracy across all social spheres. Focussing on the education sectors, we look at the recovery of excellent pedagogical tradition in our country with the creation of the Association of Rosa Sensat Teachers to drive teacher training with a new pedagogical and didactic approach. We also look at the structure and organisation of the Freinet territorial group that promoted cooperative work amongst students, schools, territories and movements from other countries; as well as union organisation with the foundation of Teacher Committees to drive and create favourable working conditions for the proper development of quality state schooling, and the commitment of some publishing houses (Laia, Avance, Cuadernos de Pedagogía...) to providing teaching materials alongside the multiplying childhood care services. Finally, we look at the struggle of many private schools to be an alternative to «national Francoist schools», including those in the Freinet group within the CEPEPC to become state schools.

Key words: teacher training; cooperative work; Teacher committees; CEPEPC; Freinet movement; post-Franco period.