Kompetence og curriculum - Institut for Uddannelse og Pædagogik ...

114 Jette Benn
Cursiv nr. 1, 2006
Summ Summary
Summ ary
The school subject home economics is focused on ‘Bildung’ for everyday life. This
‘Bildung’ 1 is aiming at life skill competencies. These competencies are encircled and
discussed based on literature studies, the official school documents, interview- and
observation studies followed developmental work in the ‘folkeskole’ (the primary
and lower secondary school). The subject field of home economics is illustrated
through a system model.
The education within home economics has to a certain degree been criticised
internally and externally. The critique is used constructively as a suggestion to
change the aims of competencies and the focus for teaching and practice. Competencies
within home economics are encircled as understanding of coherence, competencies
for everyday life, responsibility, and carefulness as opposed to a more
traditional understanding of home economics as literally speaking and figuratively
‘following the recipe’. The understanding of the concept of competencies is drawn
upon theorists within home economics as well as general educational theorists with
a special emphasis on the ethics of care, however the practical, theoretical and
esthetical parts are discussed as well. The author suggests a new paradigm based
upon a critical pedagogy, which for home economics education implies to know,
to be able to, to want, and to become.