Posr world war II greek elementary education and elementary school curriculum development

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the status of post World War ΙΓ Greek elementary education, with emphasis on curriculum development, and to formulate suggestions for the improvement of the Greek elementary school curriculum based on ideas and practices which would make more satisfactory provisions for the youth of Greece. The aims of post World War II Greek elementary education as stated by the Greek Government need to be reevaluated because they have become obsolete. They do not emphasize education for citizenship or education for international understanding. They are not consonant with present day practical considerations. They are prescribed by higher authorities, and are not clear, specific, or complete. The two more pervasive traditions, from which modern Greek thinking has drawn its inspirations are the classical and the Christian. This resulted in a classical type of curriculum and in the teaching of religion in all elementary schools today. In 1913 a curriculum syllabus was set up by a committee of the Ministry of Education and almost three generations of Greek youth were educated under this general plan without any revision, modification or deviation. This curriculum is characterized by the following deficiencies: 1. Lack of Research 2. Obsoleteness 3. Direction by a Centralized Authority 4. Use of Outdated Methods of Instruction 5. Lack of Modern System of Examination and Promotion 6. Use of more than one Language of Instruction 7. Lack of Libraries 8. Lack of Instructional Materials 9. Lack of Extracurricular Pupil Activities 10. Lack of Consideration of Local Needs 11. Lack of Lay Participation 12. Lack of Education for Democracy 13. Inadequate Teacher Education. (132 pages) GEOGRAPHICAL BACKGROUND OF GREECE The Greek mainland is situated in Southeastern Europe on the Southern tip of the Balkan peninsula. It is bounded on the North by Albania, Yugoslavia, and Bulgaria; on the East by Turkey and the Aegean Sea; on the South by the Mediterranean Sea; and on the West by the Ionian ' a . Many islands are also included within its boundaries. The total area of Greece is 51,182 square miles (131,944 square kilometers^, approximately two-thirds as large as the state of Utah. The total population, according to the 1971 census, is 8,736,367, approximately nine times the population of Utah. The population density of the whole country is 65.3 inhabitants per square kilometer. The country is predominantly mountainous. Much of the land is dry and rocky; only about 25 percent is arable. Over 65 percent of the people are engaged in agriculture, which incidentally is the principle resource of the country. Greece has mild wet winters and hot dry summers. While there is a considerable variation in · climate between the southern and the northern parts qf the country; the temperature is rarely extreme.