The construction of the democratic school in Spain: the Italian referents (1970’s and 1980’s)

Abstract

Over time there has been a strong relationship between the history of education in the Iberian Peninsula and the one in Italy. This relationship has been renovated, particularly, in a sensitive period of contemporaneity: during the first third of the 20th century within the framework of the international movement of the New School; under the fascist influence towards Franco´s regime; and most recently, in the 1970´s and 80´s. At this time, Spain´s influences originated mainly from the broad movement for construction of a democratic reform of education, with a progressive socio- political emphasis, with a singular incidence of texts and guiding principles elaborated and developed by the Movimento de Cooperazione Educativa. This occurred when Spanish constitutional democracy was being built, with a strong professional and social mobilisation in support of a progressive renovation of schools.