I. The Greek Curriculum Concerning The Concept Of Active European Citizenship

The idea and practice for European awareness and active citizenship is promoted by two separate programs in Greek Secondary Education, one for Level A in the Gymnasium and the other for Level B in the Lyceum.

The structure of school education in Greece is the following :

 

The Gymnasium

Age

 

1st

 

Level A

2nd } grade

} 13-15

 

3rd

 

 

 

The Lyceum

Age

     
 

1st

 

Level B

2nd } grade

} 16-18

 

3rd

 

The curriculum and the contents of the general subjectEUROPEAN DIMENSION AND CITIZENSHIPare, for each level, the following :

Level A

obligatory

 

Gymnasium

3rd grade

 

Subject

The European Union-

Development, Institutions, Citizenship *

}

* Issues, that are presented and discussed in this subject:

  1. The history of the establishment of the European Union (geographical, historical, cultural, economic etc. aspects).
  2. Incorporation of Greece in the European Union (1.1.1981).
  3. European institutions (structure, committees, modus operandi, decision making, common programs – Erasmus, Comenius, Socrates, Leonardo, Eurydice etc.)
  4. Member States, European Commission and Parliament, Council of Europe, European Court.
  5. Aims and challenges of European integration (political, social, environmental, cultural etc.).
  6. European citizenship : rights and requirements towards a common European/Greek identity.
  7. Common European values (respect for difference, solidarity, spirit of consensus for peace and democracy).
  8. Relevant teaching material (maps, photographs, diagrams, brochures etc.). The pictures below are some samples of the material used:

The icons of the 20 European Parliament’s Committees.

The building of the European Parliament in Strasbourg and a map of the member states.

 

 

A list of the names and flags of the 15 member states of the European Union.

 

Level B

optional

Lyceum

1st grade

2nd grade

 

Subject

European Culture and its origins *

Modern European Literature **

}

 

A History of Art ***

 

}

* Issues that are presented and discussed in this subject :

  1. The rise of Europe: the historical and geographical background (Antiquity, Middle Ages, Renascence, Christianity).
  2. Religious reformations.
  3. European culture (painting, sculpture, music, philosophy, humanities, science).
  4. Europeans and other people (the age of the great discoveries).
  5. The Enlightenment.
  6. French Revolution.
  7. Industrial Revolution.
  8. European nation-states.
  9. Parliamentary system.
  10. Modern European policy and culture.
  11. The emergence of European Community.

 

The cover of the schoolbook that is used for the teaching of the subject European Culture and its origins.

 

** Issues that are presented and discussed in this subject:

  1. Introduction to European literature: prose and poetry (1100 – 1900 ad.)
  2. Classicism, Romanticism, Symbolism, Futurism, Surrealism, Modernism.
  3. Short anthology of modern poetry and prose from Italy, France, Britain, Germany, Austria, Greece, Ireland, Spain, Portugal, Belgium, Norway, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Russia, Romania, Bulgaria and Turkey.

The cover of the schoolbook that is used for the teaching of the subject Modern European Literature.

 

***Issues that are presented and discussed in this subject :

This is a portfolio for the teaching of the history of fine arts from the era of ancient Greece until the twentieth century European art. The portfolio contains:

  1. Twenty reproductions of famous European works of art (painting, sculpture, architecture, design)
  2. Additional didactic material with comments on the presented works
  3. A short history of the development of artistic movements, trends and schools of various arts, which have been important and influential for the progress of artistic creation in the European culture.

Some of the famous artists, and their place of origin, that are presented and commented on are the following: Leonardo da Vinci (Italy), El Greco (Greece/Spain), Rembrand (Holland), Monet, Matisse (France), Picasso (Spain/France), Dali (Spain) etc.

The cover of the schoolbook that is used for the teaching of the subject A History Of Art

 

 

II. The main targets of the general subject EUROPEAN DIMENSION AND

CITIZENSHIP are :

  1. To teach young Greek people about Europe.
  2. To prepare them for life in a united multicultural Europe.
  3. To introduce pupils to the idea of European integration without loss of national identity.
  4. To cultivate a new type of citizenship without prejudice to national identities.
  5. To contribute to understanding of European interdependence and of the need for world-wide co-operation.
  6. To develop pupils’ sense of responsibility as young citizens of Greece and Europe as well.

The practices that are centrally applied to implement the above targets are:

Teachers > In Service training for six weeks, twice a week,

in order to be able to teach and organise in-class and

out-of-class activities for European dimension in

education and social life. They

Pupils > Attending classes on European awareness.

They are encouraged to

(exhibitions, newspapers, posters, competitions

especially on May 9th – European School Day).

The picture below shows one of last year’s (1999) posters for European School Day.