Abstract: After 1989, young Poles showed high expectations related to education. As a result of strong pressure for change, education began to open in the direction of popular expectations even before real reforms have been implemented. Later on reforms were promoted but schools, instead of playing a growing role in promoting young generation remained the same channel that helps families with promoting social and cultural benefits, contributing to the polarization of society. Therefore, further reforms are needed both at the pre-university and university levels to provide better educational and vocational guidance, to develop creativity and original thinking.

Keywords: “downward elevator”, educational structure, education paths, higher and secondary education, life-long learning, polarization of society, supply of education.

Abstract: Toma Cocişiu (1887-1986), one of the most active and long-living pedagogues of the Romanian Active School, who’s name is linked to the founding of the famous „Blaj Experimental School”, left a rich archive behind, mirroring his efforts, projects, hopes and dreams. He aimed to elaborate – among other things – a comprehensive „Dictionary of Ideas of the Active School”. The manuscript, unpublished until now, contains a series of files on emblematic ideas concerning fundamental pedagogical terms. This article tries to present Cocişiu’s efforts in this direction.

Keywords: Toma Cocişiu, alternative education, Blaj experimental school, individual study, child experience.

Abstract: More than 50 years ago the first non-graded multi-aged groups organized according to the Jena Plan were registered in the Netherlands. Their number increased quite fast, due to several factors: the interest of parents and teachers for innovation in education; the openness of the Dutch educational system for freedom and innovation in education, encouraging parents, teachers and communities to organize schools with certain pedagogical or confessional particularities; last but not least, the support of experts in the educational field, in order to adapt the Peter Petersen model to the realities of the contemporary Dutch society and school. This is in fact a major strength of the Jena Plan: its openness and the adaptability to present-day needs and realities of schools and societies. This article starts from the contribution of prof. Kees Both „Jena Plan in the Netherlands”, held during the national seminar with international participation „Jena Plan in Romania – Two Decades of Existence” (Mangalia, 5 – 7 September 2014). Translation: Monica Cuciureanu

Keywords: Jena Plan, freedom in education, world orientation.

Abstract: This article starts from the contribution of conf. univ. dr. Felea „Globalisation and Pluralism in the Romanian Pre-univerty School System”, held during the national seminar with international participation “Jena Plan in Romania – Two Decades of Existence” (Mangalia, 5 – 7 September 2014). The author briefly describes in the first part of the article the history of the Jena Plan in Romania, both during the period between the two World Wars and after 1989. In the second part of this material a special attention is given to the terms ”identity” and ”alterity”, which belong to the specific concepts connected to the field of educational alternatives. Conclusions and a rich list of references are to be found at the end of this article, dedicated to the celebration of two decades of existence of the Jena Plan in Romania.

Keywords: educational pluralism, identity, alterity, difference, educational alternative.

Abstract: Teachers and experts from Romania and abroad have met to celebrate 20 years of activity according to the Jena Plan in Romania, but also to analyze the recent history of this educational alternative in our country and to design its future development. This article starts from two contributions of the author ”Reform in Early Childhood Education from the perspective of the Jena Plan” and ”Recent tendencies in the Jena Plan movement in Romania”, held during the national seminar with international participation ”Jena Plan in Romania – Two Decades of Existence” (Mangalia, 5 – 7 September 2014).

Keywords: educational pluralism, identity, alterity, difference, educational alternative.

Abstract: Taking into account the age-particularities of children at preschool level, a special emphasis is made on their direct contact with nature and with real life, in general, because personal experience is the best foundation for learning. According to the Jena Plan, kindergarten-teachers should start from practical issues in order to enable children to acquire knowledge, to help them develop through an internal individual process and to achieve good education. The orientation into the environment must be seen in this context. The environment represents all external factors, both related to nature and to human society, influencing one’s existence and condition. Since birth, children grow and develop bio-psycho-socially under the direct influence of the environment. It represents for them the main source of learning. Being directly in contact with people, objects, natural and social phenomena, preschool children develop their personality and adjust to certain realities.

Keywords: Jena Plan, preschool education, orientation in the environment.

Abstract: This year Step by Step reached 20 years since its implementation in the Romanian educational system. The innovative elements (the approach by using teaching, learning and evaluation methods which take into account child personality, the personalisation of education, the activity in activity centres), as well as the principles on which this alternative is based, have led to the spreading of this program in the entire country, both at pre-school, as well as at primary-school level. At School No. 5 in Bucharest the alternative has been successfully working for sixteen years, and, starting this school year, the number of Step by Step classes has surpassed the traditional method classes at primary school level. The article presents both views regarding the approach and the integration of alternative education in public schools distinguishing the Step by Step particularities and the traditional system.

Keywords: alternative education, integrated curriculum, thematic study.

Abstract: To be a good teacher requires being a good actor in the classroom, to be able to convey to the students emotion and desire to learn more about certain contents. It is important the way in which the teacher manages to stimulate the curiosity and maintain the students’ interest in living the joy of personal discoveries. Through the way he communicates with the student and using appropriate methods and techniques to stimulate creativity, the teacher may attract his interest, his curiosity and his desire for knowledge. The enthusiasm of the teacher is the key for a good learning in school. This encourages the student‘s interest, maintains his attention and a positive attitude. In this way, there is an increase in the student‘s motivation which directly influences his educational results and his performance.

Keywords: education, enthusiasm, physical and mental health, power of words, interactive teaching and learning.

Abstract: The author proves that the efficiency of the environmental education could be much higher if included within the broader sphere of moral and civic education and if it is driven by a more extensive ideal sprung from the fundamental human right to a clean and well preserved environment, by the contemporary moral and civil values. Based on empirical research, the author pleads and motivates for an increased capitalization of the humanities and social sciences, of art, of environmental ethics and aesthetics in shaping “the ecological personality” of the tomorrow people. Seen as a result of the environmental education, the ecological personality materializes in volunteering in order to find the answers for the environmental issues in the contemporary societies. When shaping this kind of personality profile, the ecological awareness need not be underestimated to the detriment of the positive attitudes and feelings towards the environment, the human will and the orientation of character. When shaping these personality traits through environmental education activities, one must emphasize the importance of practice and applied actions aimed to protect the environment, and in general, the practice of civic-moral education method.

Keywords: environmental education; eco-ethics; sustainable development; environmental issues; volunteering; moral values.