デュルケムの教師論

その教育理論の再検討

抄録

This paper aims to clarify the characteristics of Emile Durkheim's educational theory by scrutinizing his thought of teachers.
Durkheim was not only one of the founders of educational sociology, but also devoted himself to establish the principle of public education in the Third Republic. It should be noted that his practical concerns for public education were well found in his thought of teachers.
The major points discussed in this paper are as follows:(1) According to Durkheim, a school teacher is “the agent of society”.
This expression has been often understood from the viewpoint of maintenance of the status quo, but we must now reconsider it by reading carefully his writings on education.
(2) In the opinion of Durkheim, the principle of moral integration in modern society is individualism or the cult of the individual. Therefore, we can say that he considered the teacher as the interpreter of this moral idea. Indeed, “the agent of society” should be regarded as a man who brings children to cherish a social ideal.
(3) Durkheim was fearful of the abuse of power into which the teacher may fall. He thought it necessary to prevent this danger by the teacher's self-control. Thus, he said “the teacher must resist himself”. We can find here an unknown aspect of his educational thought.
(4) It seems that Durkheim considered anarchists and dilettantes to be disqualified for schoolteachers. According to him, anarchists are those who can not feel the necessity of moral rules and dilettantes are those who do not concentrate their energies on the definite tasks.
In conclusion, it is not enough for us to find an origin of educational sociology in Durkheim's theory of education. It should be pointed out that we must find his pre-scientific concerns for education in his theory.