October 5th is celebrated World Teachers' Day, with the aim of reflecting on the role of teachers, the challenges they face every day and the increasingly difficult working conditions.
Promoted byUnesco in 1994, the anniversary has taken on greater centrality year after year, as teachers are recognized as key subjects for the implementation of the2030 Agenda on education. In fact, their commitment is fundamental to providing quality education (equitable and inclusive) and learning opportunities for all, to increase the level of global literacy and reduce early school leaving, contributing to improving people's lives and achieving sustainable development. In essence, we want to draw attention to the need for raise the status of the profession not only for the benefit of teachers and students, but also for society as a whole, while recognizing the crucial role that teachers play in building the future.
On the occasion of this day, the University of Rome Tor Vergata hosts the study conference "DIALOGUES – TOGETHER IN TUNE- The challenges of a changing school". Now in its 3rd edition, the conference is organized in collaboration between the Liceo Artistico Enzo Rossi of Rome and the IPS Maffeo Pantaleoni of Frascati, in agreement with the Department of Literary, Philosophical Studies and History of Art of the University of Tor Vergata. The initiative was born from the intention of the two schools to create a project on some central themes of Relationships and Education, with a focus on the decisive role of teachers and on the need to bring attention to the human and professional training needs of the category.
“In a society in which educational skills are increasingly oriented towards scientific and technological innovation, the Conference aims to discuss the theme of humanitas in the school of knowledge and to recover the founding and essential tools to stem the risks connected to incipient predominance of digital technologies in the educational field,” say the organizers.
Educational dialogue for a new humanitas
The main theme chosen for this year's edition is dialogue, as "the school is called to intervene to protect the psychic and emotional factors of its community and to encourage dialogue between the actors who operate in the school" with the aim, says Rossella Capuano, clinical psychologist and teacher, among the promoters of the Conference, "to give value to dialogue in society, to improve the quality of life even further today and promote the moral, ethical and civic sense of the individual".
Basically the educational dialogue it is more relevant than ever in this era of conflicts, which can only be resolved in the search for common interests, by educating in human understanding, through democratic confrontation and openness towards others. Starting from the meaning, role and value of dialogue, the Conference aims to be a highly educational moment for teachers of all disciplines, with three thematic areas which are also developed through afternoon workshops dedicated to them.
Among many others, the neurobiologist will be present Lamberto Maffei, professor emeritus of the Scuola Normale Superiore of Pisa and philosopher of science Alberto Jori professor at the University of Tübingen who, together with numerous researchers and scholars from the world of art, school and university, will discuss the contents and objectives of the chosen thematic areas: Art-creativity, to enhance art as a determinant for health, promote the suggestions of inspiration, develop emotional skills and the emotional dimension of the enjoyment of the work of art; Psychology and Neuroscience, to support the value of research and dialogue on the effects on learning and on health and well-being of educational renewal based on digital technologies; Methodology, to strengthen communication skills and listening to others in the relationship, with particular attention to the bodily approach in the educational dimension.
On World Teachers' Day, with this valuable initiative, we intend to focus on the value of education for personal and social well-being, as an aim to be safeguarded, to promote an optimal environment for student education. The school is called to intervene to protect the psychic and emotional factors of its community, combined with the need for a dialogue that opens up the possibility of real and concrete interventions in alliance with all the actors who operate inside and outside the school. For this reason, it will be crucial to start again from dialogue to promote its cultural and pedagogical value and restore critical and educational awareness to training.
