Education for Society in Educational Systems A Comparative Study on Social Competences

Educating for society means preparing young members of society for social life. This research focuses on two areas of this topic: a) the different theories regarding educating for society provided through time by different sociological models; b) a comparative empirical study conducted in Milan in order to understand the way in which education for society is currently carried out. To do so, the educational tool considered is social competences. The analysis concentrates on the parameters of definition, transmission and evaluation of social competences as described by middle school teachers and uses phenomenography as a research method. Comparison between high disadvantage index districts and low disadvantage index district is carried out. Results show teachers from high disadvantage index districts concentrate more on the intercultural aspect of social competence compared to teachers from low disadvantage index districts. Results are read both as an effect of reproductions mechanisms and as an effect of systemic normative indeterminacy.