PGB004 Alternative views on school

Faculty of Arts
Spring 2023
Extent and Intensity
2/0/0. 6 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Taught in person.
Teacher(s)
Mgr. Roman Švaříček, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. Karla Brücknerová, Ph.D. (seminar tutor)
Mgr. Jakub Vlček (seminar tutor)
Guaranteed by
Mgr. Roman Švaříček, Ph.D.
Department of Educational Sciences – Faculty of Arts
Contact Person: Mgr. Roman Švaříček, Ph.D.
Supplier department: Department of Educational Sciences – Faculty of Arts
Timetable of Seminar Groups
PGB004/01: Mon 10:00–11:40 C43, K. Brücknerová
PGB004/02: Tue 10:00–11:40 C43, J. Vlček
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.

The capacity limit for the course is 45 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 33/45, only registered: 0/45
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
The course will give students the opportunity to reflect on what it actually means to "be alternative" in education. They will learn to recognise the different 'alternatives', but more importantly they will understand why they do some things differently. Based on the discussions and their active work in the course, they will form their own informed opinions about what they like about each alternative and why.
Learning outcomes
Upon completion of the course, the student will:
- know that even in education there is no alternative to the alternative
- be able to distinguish alternative schools from each other and explain how they are different
- know what alternative schools are operating in the Czech Republic and what they look like
- to develop an informed attitude towards different alternative tendencies
- know what we know about alternatives, based on research
Syllabus
  • 1. Why do we complain about the traditional school? (and are our complaints justified?)
  • 2. How do alternatives respond to complaints? (Pathway to the core of learning I)
  • 3. How do alternatives respond to complaints? (Pathway to Core Learning II)
  • 4. Waldorf Pedagogy (Rudolf Steiner's Concept)
  • 5. The Dalton Plan (Helen Parkhust's Concept)
  • 6. Schools according to Maria Montessori ("Help me to do it myself")
  • 7. Free Schools (Summerhill and schools inspired by it)
  • 8. Alternative Alternatives (Contemporary alternative schools that create their own concept)
  • 9. Home education (The most diverse educational option)
  • 10. Forest schools (Nature as the main teacher)
  • 11. Final Reflection: What have you learned and what are you looking at differently?
Literature
  • MONTESSORI, Maria. Objevování dítěte. Translated by Vladimíra Henelová. Vydání druhé, v Portále. Praha: Portál, 2017, 351 stran. ISBN 9788026212348. info
  • HECKMANN, Helle. Pomalé rodičovství : vědomá péče o děti - inspirativní přístup školky Nøkken. Translated by Jana Čeřenová. Praha: DharmaGaia, 2016, 145 stran. ISBN 9788074360626. info
  • NEILL, Alexander Sutherland. Summerhill : příběh první demokratické školy na světě. Edited by Albert Lamb, Translated by Viktor Jurek. 1. vyd. Praha: PeopleComm, 2013, 348 s. ISBN 9788090489059. info
  • MONTESSORI, Maria. Tajuplné dětství. Translated by Jan Volín. Vydání druhé, v Tritonu p. Praha: Triton, 2012, 178 stran. ISBN 9788073873820. info
  • STEINER, Rudolf. Eurytmie jako viditelná mluva. Vyd. 1. Hranice: Fabula, 2008, 271 s. ISBN 9788086600512. info
  • Metoda Montessori pro naše dítě : inspirace pro rodiče a další zájemce. Edited by Karel Rýdl. Vyd. 2., přeprac. a dopl. Pardubice: FF Univerzity Pardubice, 2007, 199 s. ISBN 9788073950040. info
  • RÖHNER, Roel and Hans WENKE. Daltonské vyučování : stále živá inspirace. Translated by Kateřina Čechová. První vydání. Brno: Paido, 2003, 156 stran. ISBN 8073150417. info
  • MONTESSORI, Maria. Absorbující mysl. 1998. ISBN 80-86189-02-3. info
  • NEILL, Alexander Sutherland. Summerhill School : a new view of childhood. Edited by Albert Lamb. New York: St. Martin's Griffin, 1992, xxvii, 269. ISBN 0312141378. info
  • GRUNELIUS, Elisabeth M. Výchova v raném dětském věku : školky s waldorfskou pedagogikou. Translated by Milada Luňáčková. 1. vyd. Přerov: Baltazar, 1992, 59 s. ISBN 8090030734. info
  • CARLGREN, Frans. Výchova ke svobodě : pedagogika Rudolfa Steinera : obrazy a zprávy ze světového hnutí svobodných waldorfských škol. Edited by Arne Klingborg - Zdeněk Váňa, Translated by Václav Jakubec. 1. vyd. Praha: Baltazar, 1991, 263 s. ISBN 8090030726. info
  • STEINER, Rudolf and Frans CARLGREN. Výchova ke svobodě :pedagogika Rudolfa Steinera : obrazy a zprávy ze světového hnutí svobodných waldorfských škol. Edited by Arne Klingborg - Zdeněk Váňa. 1. vyd. Praha: Baltazar, 1991, 263 s. ISBN 80-900307-2-6. info
  • MONTESSORI, Maria. The Montessori method. Edited by Joseph McVicker Hunt, Translated by Anne E. George. First published by Schocken. New York: Schocken Books, 1964, xxxix, 376. ISBN 0805209220. info
Teaching methods
Discussion, group work, project teaching, argumentation essay, documentary film, text analysis, reflection.
Assessment methods
During the semester, students will submit in Elf, at set dates, twelve semester assignments and a final reflection on the course. For each of these assignments (some are individual, others are assigned to a group) a maximum of 6 points can be gained.Student will also work on a group project during the semester, which will be presented and defended during the examination period (a maximum of 22 points can be obtained for the project and the defence).To successfully complete the course, students must earn at least 61 points, with no task being completed for less than 4 points (for the project and defence less than 15 points).
Language of instruction
Czech
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
Study Materials
The course is taught annually.
The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2020, Spring 2021, Spring 2022, Spring 2024, Spring 2025.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Spring 2023, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/phil/spring2023/PGB004