An article concerning romanticism, nationalism and the moral argument in special education

Table 1.

BasisFocusGoalTeaching for social formationA clearly defined knowledge base (a curriculum).Academic knowledge – Focus on teaching methods that lead to increased knowledge. Knowledge that can be measured.The knowledgeable person – the worker.Guide to self-formationA debatable knowledge base that is based on students' interests.Competence – Focus on individual reflection and expression.The competent person who masters change – the performer.

Table 2.

Special educational valuesSchool projectViews of children and youthThe child's valueSpecial educational actionTraditionalSocial formation ‘Collective responsibility’State and the nation's childrenThe child is an investmentDifficulties are an obstacle to community participation and should therefore be reducedInclusiveSelf- formation ‘Individual rights’The romantic view (The autonomous child)The child has value in itselfDifficulty is a measure of variation and should be the starting point for self-formation and should therefore be nursed