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Changing Horizons in Geography Education - HERODOT Network ...

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Geographical education vs. cultural education and educationof culture <strong>in</strong> Polish schools – theoretical reflectionsDanuta PirógDepartment of Didactics of <strong>Geography</strong>, Faculty of <strong>Geography</strong>Pedagogical Academy <strong>in</strong> Krakówe-mail: dbutryn@ap.krakow.plAbstractThe article presents the mean<strong>in</strong>g, place and role of cultural education, education of cultureand <strong>in</strong>tercultural education <strong>in</strong> Polish teach<strong>in</strong>g of geography. Accord<strong>in</strong>g to the literature thesethematic l<strong>in</strong>ks can be important elements <strong>in</strong> reach<strong>in</strong>g the lead<strong>in</strong>g goal of education; that isto prepare students for adult life <strong>in</strong> <strong>in</strong>dividual and social dimensions. The author gives ajustification of this proposed thesis with establishments mean<strong>in</strong>g of cultural education andeducation of culture <strong>in</strong> the context of geography teach<strong>in</strong>g. These changes <strong>in</strong> programme ofPolish geography education create an enormous possibility for the proper realisation of theparamount aim of education, that is to prepare students for adult life; the proper realisationof subject aims <strong>in</strong> desired hierarchy (from convictions and attitudes, skills to understand<strong>in</strong>gpatterns); while also <strong>in</strong>creas<strong>in</strong>g the prestige of geography as a study discipl<strong>in</strong>e and subjectof teach<strong>in</strong>g.Key words: culture; cultural education; education of culture; <strong>in</strong>tercultural education;teach<strong>in</strong>g of geographyIntroductionSocial, economic, cultural and political transformations <strong>in</strong> Poland and all aroundthe world demand from the nation to prepare for new life conditions. Thus, theyare the reason for chang<strong>in</strong>g goals and verification of the content of programme ofeducation. The necessity of adjust<strong>in</strong>g the educational system to emerg<strong>in</strong>g needs is<strong>in</strong>evitable. Therefore, new spheres of <strong>in</strong>terest have emerged for scientific studies ofdetailed teach<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g teach<strong>in</strong>g of geography. Piskorz (1997) emphasizes thenecessity of undertak<strong>in</strong>g these challenges <strong>in</strong> a range of prelim<strong>in</strong>ary research anddemonstrates the achievements of polish teach<strong>in</strong>g of geography, the pace and widerange of reforms of civilization, not only enable, but somehow make it necessary to<strong>in</strong>clude new problems <strong>in</strong> research work. Among the basic po<strong>in</strong>ts <strong>in</strong> his research he<strong>in</strong>cludes undertak<strong>in</strong>g the problem of “education for <strong>in</strong>ternational agreement, cooperationand peace” (p. 202). Piskorz doesn’t use the term ‘education of culture’ or‘cultural education,’ but he accepts the idea of creat<strong>in</strong>g agreement and cooperation,by which he refers to the tasks of education of culture and cultural education be<strong>in</strong>gemphasized <strong>in</strong> sociology studies and <strong>in</strong> teach<strong>in</strong>g of culture. Accord<strong>in</strong>g to Zioło(2002) geography has a significant potential <strong>in</strong> this area, as it is <strong>in</strong> its nature to jo<strong>in</strong>social and cultural matters, to def<strong>in</strong>e relation between them <strong>in</strong> different scale ofspatial structure.263

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