What education means to you?

Education permits a common basis in general knowledge for everybody and educated persons become responsible people who are integrated in the surrounding society who appreciate the democracy and who respect the nature and other persons.

2.                  Describe your formal education (from primary school up the  time of this study):
What do you remember most and why?

The first schools years until the secondary school were the most important school years for me where I obtained the essential general knowledge. I think it is very important to have a good balance between the formal and informal education – the students families need to support in a continuous way the teachers work that is done in the school. During these early educational years all the educators need to act together, I know this from my own experience.

I followed the primary and secondary educational curriculum in Italy. During the years of my primary education I followed an educational program that does not exist anymore. The government reformed the educational system in order to do it a bit more modern, but this was about 70 years ago.

3.                  Describe your informal education (Learning outside the school):
Have you ever  taken part in any courses? Why? How is  your educational level now? Have you any experiences that taught you something important? if yes, what were they?

I strongly believe that the “school of life” is as important as the formal education. But of course, the informal education that we have throughout our lives depends a lot on the people that we meet and the different activities that we decide to do; so this kind of education can be more or less efficient, depending on your own motivation. Personally, I have a great chance to meet inspiring persons who have given me examples and  shown me their personal and professional experiences, which have guided me a lot in the path of my life.

4.                  Who or which was your the best teacher and why?

I had a teacher in Latin language and in History who was very pedagogic. He took the time to prepare the lessons in a way that interested the pupils. Also, he/she was available for all the pupils that had questions. This teacher used concerted examples to demonstrate the theories and sometimes we even went out of the classroom. After this lessons, the students worked in groups to do the homework.

I think the teachers should share even more their best practices in teaching and this way try to adapt their methods for the pupils. Also, the teachers should be able to link the subject that they teach to the other related matters; they should do their lessons more concrete and inspire themselves from arts, cultures and social phenomena. This way the students wan obtain a wider understanding of the society and how it works.