Freinet Movements of France, Italy and Germany, 1920-2000 Versions of Educational Progressivism

“In an age where there is increasingly explicit concern with citizenship and values, as well as literacy and numeracy, and at a time when lifelong learning is high on the political agenda, this book offers a powerful new vision of the educational enterprise. The book is a tour de force. It breaks new historical ground in documenting almost for the first time, the life and work of one of the greatest educational thinkers. It also provides a powerful new vision for education in the twenty-first century.” – Comparative Education, Vol. 39, No. 3, August 2003

“In this work of monumental scholarship, Nicholas Beattie’s elegant and accessible analysis documents the many political currents that provided the context which formed the unique contribution of one of the greatest educationists of the 20th century. . . . Not only is the reader presented with an absorbing and convincing account of Freinet the man; they are also provided with a sophisticated comparative analysis of the evolution of the Freinet movement in three countries. . . . The book is a tour de force. It breaks new historical ground in documenting almost for the first time, the life and work of one of the greatest educational thinkers. It also provides a powerful new vision for education in the 21st century.” – Patricia Broadfoot

“This is a remarkable book. It is a work of considerable scholarship representing the fruits of decades of research. . . . It depicts ‘Freinet in his world,’ a profoundly French thinker firmly embedded in a thoroughly Francophone cultural context. . . . a vivid portrayal of a highly creative and original educator whose ideas about the nature of learning have an urgent yet timeless relevance to anyone seriously interested in the educational process. . . . Beattie’s work is the first really substantial attempt to give an English readership a deep insight into the meaning and significance of Freinet’s life and thought. The book is extremely well written, thoroughly researched and thoughtfully structured. It deserves to be widely read. . . . This book makes an excellent case for Freinet. Nicholas Beattie’s work is a model of the genre. It should be compulsory reading for all politicians and policy makers intent on educational reform.” – Keith Sharpe

"A very profitable investment. The author tells the tale in a lively fashion, supports his observations with plenty of eveidence." - Prof R. Murray Thomas, University of California at Santa Barbara

Table of contents:
Preface, Foreword
1. Introduction
2. France, 1935 and 1944: The Classic Freinet Techniques
3. France, 1918-40: Primary Schooling, War and Politics
4. France, 1918-1933: Origins of the Freinet Movement
5. France, 1933-1950: Surviving
6. France, 1940-1964: Books
7. France, 1950-2000
8. Italy, 1944-2000: From Transmission to Transformation
9. Germany, 1945-2000: Two Movements, Multiple Message
10. Anglo-Saxon Perspectives
References; Index