Clestin Freinet

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French innovative teacher and educator, the founder of Freinet schooling. Freinet believed that education was a way, if not the way, to change humanity. Specific to his thinking is his desire to bring historical materialism down to the level of the classroom. In his view ‘techniques for living’ involve a permanent contact with nature, a belief in the virtues of work well done and a love of freedom. This results in a certain pride in honesty, devotion to duty and reliability. In 1914, Freinet was called up to serve in the war. In 1915 he was severely wounded in the lung, he never recovered completely and suffered throughout his life. Freinet said that the shortage of breath was partly responsible for the nature of his different way of teaching and educational innovations. The ‘chalk and talk’ of the teacher was replaced with active participation of his pupils. In 1923 Freinet purchased a printing press, originally to assist with his teaching, since his lung injury made it difficult for him to talk for long periods. It was with this press he printed free texts and class newspapers for his students. The children would compose their own works on the press, and would discuss and edit them as a group before presenting them as a team effort. They would regularly leave the classroom to conduct field trips. The newspapers were exchanged with those from other schools. Gradually the group texts replaced conventional school books. Freinet created the teachers' trade union C.E.L. (Coopérative de l'Enseignement Laïc) in 1924, from which arose the French teacher movement Modern School Movement (Mouvement de l'École Moderne). The goal of the C.E.L was to change public education from the inside with the co-operation of teachers. Link to Wikipedia biography