Published: 2005-06-30

The Salesian System of Education and Florian Znaniecki’s Sociology of Education

Marek Woś
Seminare. Learned Investigations
Section: Socio-pedagogical sciences
https://doi.org/10.21852/sem.2005.21.36

Abstract

John Bosco’s educational system so widely and successfully applied in practice is indeed of lasting value and one could only wish that it would exist in the global process of education. It is only the harmonious and comprehensive development of a student which can bring the awaited results in both educational and didactic processes. Paradoxically, sociology places the social order as the outset or departure point according to which all the phenomena present in society should be explained. However, human being, despite their great uniqueness, is far from the point from which it would be easy to confine many phenomena within suitable rules typical for particular moments. Florian Znaniecki the forerunner of the Polish sociological school placed student in the center from which he/she is influenced by the environment. A student is for him, as for a sociologist, the most important and unique entity. A similar and inasmuch strong approach was presented by John Bosco, not at all a sociologist but an educator. He claimed that a student is the most important creature, with whom one should be in a continuous dialogue strengthening his/her faith, enriching their knowledge by approaching them with love. According to the principle of Christian religion love is neither the form of perversion nor force but the form of renouncement resulting from being empathic towards another person in order to do everything to achieve happiness and social law and order. In this perspective it is the strive after reaching satisfaction from the good fulfillment of the duties regarding God and people with whom educators are to cooperate. One should also remember that an education of a socially conscious entity is a time-consuming and sophisticated process. Despite the fact that from the outside it does not look like a process of learning but more like a method of trials, it is consistently realized line of thinking of generations tendentiously directed towards the views in the way significant for their tribe. It is similar to the behavior of organized groups which intend to instruct individuals in order to provide continuation either of a profession or belief. I show here the main important similarities and dissimilarities between Florian Znaniecki and John Bosco in order trying to make readers reflex on the way in searching new solution connected with education and societies who nowadays and in the nearest future have to take part in.

Keywords:

Florian Znaniecki, St. John Bosco, education, Salesians

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Woś, M. (2005). The Salesian System of Education and Florian Znaniecki’s Sociology of Education. Seminare. Learned Investigations, 21, 531–546. https://doi.org/10.21852/sem.2005.21.36

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