Authority in Theory and Practice of Educational Accompaniment

Abstract

The issue of authority in education is perceived and resolved in various ways. In the following line of reasoning we rely on the inspirations provided by the pedagogy of The Spiritual Exercises of Ignatius Loyola. According to the idea of The Exercises, the authority of the educator should be based on his or her willingness to assist the student, to allow him to take his own initiative, while at the same time ensuring that his search for a path of his own development does not lead him astray. This understanding of authority shows that we refer it to actions that assist a person in ordering his or her life in the somatic, psychic and spiritual spheres. Based on such assumptions, Ignatian pedagogy considers the success of these actions to be contingent on the dialogue of God with man and of man with God. This dialogue is expected to inspire man's efforts to bring order in all areas of his life. The proposed understanding of authority determines the role of the educator in the processes of upbringing in a specific way. It comes down to the function of accompanying the student on the common path towards the attainment of the fullness of humanity. Accepting the assumptions of Christian personalism helps to understand this notion of authority and to apply it to pedagogical practice.