Cousinet’s Psychological Thought: Description and Summary of the Point of View of the Professor of Educational Psychology at the Sorbonne.
Cousinet (1882-1973) professor of pedagogical psychology at the Sorbonne, director of magazines and founder of associations focused on new education. According to Cousinet, traditional teaching has the double limit of preventing individuation and not encouraging sociability.
Schoolwork should be done in an environment that is mentally stimulating, but also appropriate for developing relationships with others. The group allows both goals to be achieved.
ROGER COUSIN
With the free group work method, free groups will carry out the learning activity. Effective teaching requires that groups form freely , according to the children’s likes and dispositions; it may happen that initially they will often change groups. Group life is an extraordinary source of experiences, comparison and common growth, both emotionally and intellectually, but it also presents conflictual characteristics. However, the group is able to manage such conflict.
Cousinet’s class is organized with a considerable amount of material and teaching tools, so that each group can proceed autonomously. Since the work is based primarily on research , specific documents divided by subject are the main tools available to the groups.
The new method involves a “restructuring” of the teacher, who no longer has to present himself as omniscient and bearer of authority, but as a reasonable and responsible adult, who works alongside his students, supporting them in their activity. He therefore will not have to guide the students in their research, but only help , he will have to recognize the role of collaborator of the groups. The teacher will take care of showing what each work consists of, once the basic rules have been established the group will be able to proceed with maximum freedom. The teacher will make himself available to each group.
