Suchergebnisse

This paper analyzes and clarifies motivations and reasons for a short but intensive development of the secondary level of schooling followed by a sudden end, especially of the so-called Provincial schools, in three Inner Austrian lands (Carniola, Styria and Carinthia) in the 16th century. The situation regarding the organization of schooling in the 16th century was incomparable with the situation in the states headed by the Protestant rulers. Nevertheless, a type of Protestant gymnasium emerged here, which was called Provincial school (Landschaftsschule) and which also required some prior elementary knowledge for enrollment. For each of the three lands — Carniola, Carinthia and Styria — the establishment of the Provincial School was the first actual opportunity for the foundation of a central institution providing not only elementary knowledge, but also higher levels of education partly comparable to the curricula of the faculties of arts. Unfortunately, at the end of the 16th century, the development of the Provincial Schools was forcibly stopped. The article is based upon a thorough analysis and comparison of the relevant primary and secondary sources (in Latin, Slovene, German and English). The results show that all three school underwent similar phases of development and the same sudden termination, despite different inner circumstances, material foundations and time frame. In any case, the three Provincial Schools played an important part in the development of humanistic education on the territory of modern Republic of Slovenia and the Republic of Austria.

Following the adoption of the conceptual design proposed by the White Paper in 1995 and the legislation adopted on this basis, the reform of primary school transformed its overall image. In the present paper, we discuss only some of the solutions and consider the events and changes that have occurred in the last twenty years, devoting special attention to the systemic, programme and process levels. At the systemic level, where the starting point was primarily to ensure justice and equal opportunities, we have managed to maintain an adequate public network and programme structure, despite various attempts to implement the solutions indicated in the White Paper of 2011, and notwithstanding interventions in the system that were not in fact always well thought out. Nonetheless, more attention should have been paid to reducing inequalities related to sociocultural circumstances and different regions in Slovenia. On the programme level, a consensus needs to be reached on what quality general education means to us; this would alleviate conflicting demands placed on teachers, students and planners of programme solutions. On the process level, however, we find that there is a lack of adequate professional support and systematic evaluation studies, as the quality of school cannot be judged solely on the basis of results from international research. In order to take a step forward on the process level, there is need for quality school-linked school policy that is based on various professions and aimed at raising quality rather than at self-promotion and budget cutting in the field of education. (DIPF/Orig.)