THE POLITICAL AND CIVIC PURPOSE OF EDUCATION. THE ORIGIN OF A HISTORICAL TRADITION IN SPAIN

Abstract

INTRODUCTION. The article outlines the causes and ways with which Spain developed an interest in promoting the political and civic ends of education. In it we revise this aim, which tries to contribute, by means of education, to the construction of what is considered “national character” or “public spirit”. Our work analyzes this question in a very important time of Spanish history, with the thought and projects of the Illustration and the constitution of liberalism in our country as a back drop. METHOD. In order to achieve this we study a very wide range of period documents from a historical point of view, through which basic features of that intention and model can be identified and characterized. An effort is made to systematize and interpret ideas, regulations, projects and political catechism. RESULTS. It is therefore possible, through the analysis of these sources, to get a better understanding of some aspects of this social and political option, which is mentioned at the beginning of this summary. It also helps to understand the role that pedagogy has in it. On the other hand our analysis shows other points of interest: the transformations that keep going on, the confluence in this task of Church and State, the presence of religious confessionality and the progress in laity, the indifference or valuation before the topic of civic formation, the transition from the defense of a national education to the strengthening of state education.DISCUSSION. The result of this study contributes, to the historical clarification of the bases of some questions that continue to be relevant to the educational and political debate: secularization, modernity, citizen formation, etc.