Social-pedagogic Eyes in the Midst of Diverse Understandings,

Conceptualisations and Activities

Sligo, May 24-25, 2012Prof. Juha Hämäläinen

University of Eastern Finland

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Social Pedagogy - A Challenging Concept

• Difficult to catch• Used in different ways and contexts • Multiplicity of the theoretical self-conceptions• Influenced by different philosophies and

ideologies, political interests, and professional aspirations

• Diverse country-specific traditions• Semantics: What makes pedagogy ‘social’?

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What Makes Pedagogy ’Social’?

• ’Pedagogy’– Pedagogy is a branch of thought concerning the nature of

human growth and education in theory and practice

• ’Social’– Referring to society: SP as philosophy of education about

connections between education and society (‘sociology’)– Referring to community and human relationships: SP as

philosophy of community-based education highlighting the importance of community in the processes of human growth and education (‘social psychology’)

– Referring to welfare and care: SP as a pedagogic theory and practice of social help (‘social ethics’, ‘social policy’)

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Three Basic Reference Points of the Term ’Social’

• Social pedagogy as pedagogy in which attention is paid to the societal conditions of education and human development;

• Social pedagogy representing the idea of community-based education and highlighting the importance of community in education and human development;

• Social pedagogy as pedagogy contributing to welfare, focusing especially on the underprivileged, poor and oppressed aiming at preventing social exclusion and advancing social inclusion.

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Reference points Social structures Social action Educational aims Educational means

Society(SP as a discipline dealing with interconnection of society and education)

Social order-constitutional order-infrastructures-culture factors

Social action in society-civil society-labour-leisure

Promoting-active citizenship and citizen morals-democracy-social inclusion-participation-social developmentPreventing-social dysfunctions and disintegrations-social exclusion

Societal conditions as educatorSociety as context of growing upAdequate social structures for educational aims-school system-other educational institutions-opportunities for participation

Community(SP as a discipline stressing on the community-based nature of education)

Personal relationships Social interactionCommunity lifeFamily life

Promoting-social skills-communicative culturePreventing-isolation, loneliness-problems in personal relationships

Community-based educationEducation in, into, for and through community life

Welfare(SP as a discipline offering a theoretical framework for social care)

Welfare system Social benefitsSocial aid Social care

Promoting-social inclusion-social wellbeingPreventing- misery, poverty, social and psychosocial problems

Professional social care

Table 1. Semantic varieties of social pedagogy

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The Importance of Community in Education

• Two kinds of approaches– Active citizenship through social participation and

civic activities (’citizenship education’)– An educational method in professional use (’social

care’)• Two-way traffic– To strengthen communities through education– Educative community for human development

• Education – Community – Social capital

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Social Pedagogy as Theory and Practice of Community Education

• The substance– The idea of education in community, through community

and for community

• The idea of a active man– Collective self-development– To influence on life conditions individually and collectively

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Two Developmental Lines of Social Pedagogy

• Theory and practice of education relating to people’s growth into membership of society and community life (citizenship education, socialization)

• Theory and practice of education for prevention and alleviation of social exclusion and promotion of welfare (social care through education, social education)

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Social Pedagogy in the Process of Modernization

• Origins social pedagogy in terms of history of ideas: people as active social subjects

• Origins of social pedagogy in terms of social history: industrialization, urbanization, modernization of the social life

• Development of social pedagogy as a modern social system (Science-Education-Practice)

• Social pedagogy in the era of late-modern society: new problems new challenges to theory building, research activities, education and practice

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Social Pedagogy

Science

Education Practice

Academic

Discipline

Branch of Research

Social Pedagogy as a Functional System of the Modern Society

Professionalactivity

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SOCIAL PEDAGOGY AS A PART OF THE SOCIAL SCIENTIFIC BASIS OF SOCIAL PROFESSIONS

Social Ethics

Social Pedagogy

Social Psychology

Sociology

Social Policy

SOCIAL PROFESSIONS

Teachersetc.

Youth workers Social workers

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Social Pedagogy as a Science and an Academic Discipline

Social Pedagogy is a practical science (‘action science’) dealing with and focusing on

- the processes of human growth applying to people’s social integration and inclusion, social subjectivity, participation, and social capability

- pedagogical activities aiming at promoting these processes of human growth

- particular problems which people have in integrating to social systems and communities which are necessary to belong to for their well-being and quality of life

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”Social-pedagogic Eyes” in Theory Building and Professional Expertise

• Social criticism instead of mere social adaptation

• Reflection instead of a toolbox • Philosophical anthropology instead of

methods and techniques • Homo educandus + Homo socialis

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Thank you for your attention!