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Article

Susan Isaacs and the Malting House School

Pages 5-22 | Published online: 14 Mar 2008
 

Abstract

It is well known that psychoanalysis has over the years had a significant impact on the education of children with mental health problems. Its contribution to the theory and practice of mainstream education is less well documented. This paper gives an account of the five-year (1924–1929) history of the Malting House School in Cambridge. The school was financed by Geoffrey Pyke and headed by Susan Isaacs, a teacher, psychologist and early member of the British Psychoanalytic Society, who became a leading protagonist of the ideas of Melanie Klein. The physical structure, organisation, philosophy and curriculum of the school are described. Although the school was only in existence for five years, through the writings and teaching of Susan Isaacs it had a lasting impact on early years education.

Résumé

L'impact de la psychanalyse sur l'éducation des enfants présentant des troubles psychiques a été considérable, et cela depuis un certain nombre d'années. Sa contribution à la théorie et à la pratique de la scolarité ordinaire sont, cependant, moins bien connus. Dans cet article, le lecteur trouvera un compte-rendu des cinq années d'existence (1924–1929) de l'école ≪ Malting House ≫ de Cambridge. Cette école était financée par Geoffrey Pyke et dirigée par Susan Isaacs. Enseignante, psychologue et l'un des premiers membres de la Société Britannique de Psychanalyse, S. Isaacs était également l'un des principaux défenseurs des idées de Melanie Klein. L'auteur décrit la structure physique, l'organisation, la philosophie globale et le programme d'études de cette école. Bien qu'elle n'ait existé que pendant cinq ans, cette école, grâce à l'œuvre et à l'enseignement de Susan Isaacs, a eu un impact durable sur la scolarité des très jeunes enfants.

Es ist wohl bekannt, dass Psychoanalyse über die Jahre einen bedeutenden Einfluss auf die Erziehung von Kindern mit psychischen Problemen hatte. Ihr Beitrag zur Theorie und Praxis von Erziehung in Regulärschulen ist weniger gut dokumentiert. Dieser Artikel gibt eine Darstellung von der fünfjährigen (1924–1929) Geschichte der Malting House Schule in Cambridge. Die Schule wurde von Geoffrey Pyke finanziert und von Susan Isaacs geleitet, einer Lehrerin, Psychologin und frühem Mitglied der Britischen Psychoanalytischen Vereinigung, die eine führende Protagonistin der Ideen von Melanie Klein wurde. Die Struktur, Organisation, Philosophie und das Curriculum der Schule wird beschrieben. Obwohl die Schule nur für 5 Jahre existierte, so hatte sie doch durch die Schriften und das Lehren von Susan Isaacs einen bleibenden Einfluss auf Früherziehung.

Riassunto

E' riconosciuto l'impatto significativo che la psicoanalisi ha avuto negli anni sull'educazione dei bambini con problemi di salute mentale. Meno documentato è il suo contributo alla teoria e pratica dell'educazione ordinaria. Questo articolo racconta i cinque anni (1924–1929) di storia della scuola Malting House a Cambridge. La scuola fu finanziata da Geoffrey Pyke e diretta da Susan Isaacs, un'insegnante, psicologa e una dei primi membri della Societa' Psicoanalitica Inglese, che divenne pratagonista importante delle idee di Melanie Klein. Vengono descritti la struttura fisica, l'organizzazione, la filosofia ed il curriculum della scuola. Anche se la scuola rimase aperta solo per cinque anni, attraverso gli scritti ed insegnamenti della Isaacs, essa ebbe un impatto duraturo sull'educazione dei primi anni.

Notes

A fuller account of the Malting House School and of the life of Susan Isaacs is available in a forthcoming publication: Philip Graham (in press), Susan Isaacs: Freeing the Minds of Children (London: Karnac).

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