Pluriclassi, scuole rurali, scuole a ciclo unico dall’Unità d’Italia al 1948

Nell’articolo si ripercorre la storia della scuola elementare, dall’Ottocento fino al 1948, puntando lo sguardo ad un tassello apparentemente marginale e periferico dell’istruzione pubblica qual è quello delle «piccole scuole», variamente definite nel corso degli anni come: «scuole elementari uniche divise in tre sezioni», «scuole rurali», «scuole non classificate», «scuole riunite affidate ad un unico maestro», «scuole uniche pluriclassi». La prospettiva storiografica è quella di considerare questo tipo di scuola al di fuori degli stereotipi che hanno influenzato la ricostruzione della storia dell’educazione in Italia. In particolare, ci si allontana da alcuni assunti che la recente ricerca archivistica e documentale ha cominciato a mettere in discussione, primo fra tutti l’idea che l’obbligo scolastico scaturisse ex novo della nascita dell’Italia come nazione. I tre periodi storici presentati, dedicati rispettivamente alla scuola pluriclasse nell’Italia liberale, nel fascismo, nei primissimi anni della repubblica, offrono inaspettati elementi di riflessione sulle scelte che, nei nostri giorni, operatori scolastici, decisori politici e comunità devono mettere in atto su questi temi.This article traces the history of elementary schooling from the nineteenth century to 1948, focusing on «small schools», a seemingly marginal and peripheral element of public education. Such schools have been defined over the decades as: «elementary schools comprised of three sections», «rural schools», «unclassified schools», «merged schools entrusted to a single teacher», «singular multi-class schools». From a historiographical perspective this type of school will be considered beyond the stereotypes that have characterised the reconstruction of educational history in Italy. One such stereotype, which recent archival and documentary research has started to put into question, is the assumption that compulsory schooling coincided with the birth of Italy as a nation-state. The three historical periods presented, devoted to the multi-classroom school in liberal Italy, during fascism, and in the early years of the republic respectively, offer unexpected reflections on choices presently made regarding primary school by those on the educational shop floor, political decision-makers and communities

Pluriclassi, scuole rurali, scuole a ciclo unico dall’Unità d’Italia al 1948

This article traces the history of elementary schooling from the nineteenth century to 1948, focusing on «small schools», a seemingly marginal and peripheral element of public education. Such schools have been defined over the decades as: «elementary schools comprised of three sections», «rural schools», «unclassified schools», «merged schools entrusted to a single teacher», «singular multi-class schools». From a historiographical perspective this type of school will be considered beyond the stereotypes that have characterised the reconstruction of educational history in Italy. One such stereotype, which recent archival and documentary research has started to put into question, is the assumption that compulsory schooling coincided with the birth of Italy as a nation-state. The three historical periods presented, devoted to the multi-classroom school in liberal Italy, during fascism, and in the early years of the republic respectively, offer unexpected reflections on choices presently made regarding primary school by those on the educational shop floor, political decision-makers and communities