THE COLLECTIONS
We invite you to discover the rich heritage of the Museum of Education accrued over 150 years of academic teaching and research. The diverse collections of desks, chairs, blackboards, childcare materials, photographs, toys from the 19th century and beyond constitute the heart of the Museum. This heritage includes an intangible sense of equal importance, made up of music, nursery rhymes, personal stories, and memories of educational practices.
Come and see our collections in the Museum and discover how education and instruction have changed over time, in Padua and Italy.
You will thus also gain experience in Public History, participating in the enhancement of heritage and the co-construction of historical and educational knowledge.
Archive and book collection
A treasure trove of antique books, diaries, manuals, magazines, and school notebooks that tell more than a century of education and teaching.
Childcare and leisure time
Not just school: a precious and unique collection of games and childcare materials.
Puppet theater and Roller Coaster
Two wonders of the Museum: a puppet theater and a handmade Roller Coaster!
Teaching aids
Teaching aids have helped teachers over time to teach and make their lessons concrete and tangible. Come and discover them!
Visual and audiovisual materials
Wall paintings, geographical maps, magic lanterns, filmstrips, super8, videocassettes, radio, television, and record players: we see and hear education.
Photographs
Look, snap and remember photographs that testify to the past.
The first schools for children: Fröbel, Montessori, Agazzi
Discover what pedagogists thought about the education of children from 3 to 6 years old in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries!
School classroom
Discover what a school classroom looked like a century ago!
Open-air school
A local treasure, the exhibit dedicated to the “Gioconda” mobile open-air school in Este.
School of work
A particular school in which memory is preserved is the school of male and female work that no longer exists today, at least in the form that can be seen at the Museum.
Intangible heritage
Songs, nursery rhymes, memories, recollections, stories… the many faces of the history of Education!
RESEARCH AND INSIGHTS
Our exhibitions
Discover our exhibitions and themed guided tours, available every Thursday afternoon during the Museum’s public opening hours. A unique opportunity to immerse yourself in carefully curated pathways that explore unusual and fascinating connections between historical-educational heritage and memory, history, culture, and society.
Hidden treasures
Discover the #HiddenTreasure column! Every month we present some unique pieces from the Museum, an exciting journey through the history of education and images of our treasures.
Protagonists of education
Who were the #ProtagonistsOfEducation? Through our monthly column, we discover together some of the scholars, pedagogies, educators, and teachers, who have contributed to writing the history of Italian, European and world education.
Publications
Read what has been written about the Museum’s collections: you will discover scientific articles, informative texts, and research.
HISTORY
The history of the Museum of Education, affiliated with the FISPPA Department, is deeply rooted in the tradition of historical-pedagogical studies at the University. It is particularly tied to research activities and the academic fields of the History of School and Educational Institutions, and the History of Youth Literature. These fields, which became established as Chairs in the 1960s, laid the scientific and organizational groundwork for the creation of the Museum
THE STAFF
Prof. Carla Callegari
Scientific Director
Full Professor of History of Education and Comparative Education
Dr. Fabio Fignani
Curator
Fabio Fignani was born and lives in Padua. He graduated in Political Science and subsequently in Contemporary History.
Prof. Giordana Merlo
Associate Professor of History of Education
Prof. Giulia Fasan
Assistant Professor in History of Education and Comparative Education
Sofia Tessarolo
Universal Civil Service Volunteer
My name is Sofia Tessarolo, I have a bachelor’s degree in DAMS and I am currently attending the master’s degree course in Archaeology and Art History at the Catholic University of the Sacred.
Lorena Vida
Universal Civil Service Volunteer
My name is Lorena Vida, I am a 23-year-old student, and I am attending the course of Political Science, International Relations and Human Rights.
Gregorio Gerardo Alberto Mangione
Universal Civil Service Volunteer
My name is Gregorio Mangione, I am 20 years old, and I study Law and Technology at the University of Padua. In addition to my studies, I am also a Scout leader.
THEY SAY ABOUT US
“Thank you for the welcome and the detailed guide. Interesting. It’s a pleasure to see how you carefully and passionately preserve this great heritage. Thank you.”
– Vanessa e Alessia | 21.11.2024
“Thank you for this excursion into the history of school and education. A rich and stimulating journey for children and adults.”
– Third-grade class | 15.10.2024
“It was very interesting as well as beautiful. I got to know a new place with fantastic materials. I would like to repeat this experience. It was an unforgettable moment. Thanks to the guide and for the good welcome.
– Sarah | 27.03.2024