The New Professional Status of the Social Educator: A Historical and Comparative Perspective

Abstract

This contribution presents a historical-comparative study on the evolution of the social educator profession in France during the 1950s and 1960s. Although this professional role developed similarly in Italy and France during the 1940s and 1950s, supported by the associations that advocated for it, the French éducateur spécialisé achieved normative, academic, and professional recognition much earlier than its Italian counterpart.

The history of the social educator profession and its training is characterized by elements of continuity, as well as fragmentation, heterogeneity of designations, experiences, and duties, particularly in late twentieth-century Italy. This field remains a fertile and open area of research today, not only due to its partially untold history but also thanks to recent developments and legislative recognitions – such as the recent Law No. 55 of April 15, 2024.