L' Education and Work According to Georg Kerschensteiner

A Forgotten Author Returns Topical

Abstract

Georg Kerschensteiner is known as the “founder” of the German dual system of apprenticeship. His work, as school reformer and philosopher of education, offers interesting insights in the core issue of the vocational education and training: how work activities promote education? In his writings the classic concept of Bildung extends to include manual labor and specific professional knowledge. Despite some outdated aspects, his thought is still actual in the present day, especially after the post-fordism turn in the world of work. Starting from the results of a study by Howard Gardner on the so called "Good work", this article presents Kerschensteiner’s idea of labour as educational tool.