Identity and Civic Formation Through Cultural Education: A Pedagogical and Semantic Analysis for a High School Elective Course
Identity and Civic Formation Through Cultural Education: A Pedagogical and Semantic Analysis for a High School Elective Course

Author(s): Dorin Opriş, Monica Opriş
Subject(s): Social Sciences, Education, School education, Sociology of Education, Pedagogy
Published by: Editura Eikon
Keywords: culture; traditions; heritage; identity; adolescents; history; past;
Summary/Abstract: In an educational context marked by the need to cultivate reflective citizens, the elective course “Culture and Traditions of the Romanian People” aims to provide an interdisciplinary framework for exploring the intangible cultural heritage, with formative potential for students’ identity and civic development. This pilot study examines the impact of this elective course on high school students through qualitative research based on semi- structured interviews, supplemented by lexical analysis conducted using the KH Coder software. The results of the semantic analysis highlight a network of concepts centered on “identity,” “values,” “culture,” and “civic,” suggesting a cognitive and reflective reception of the educational content. Students perceive Romanian culture as a dynamic process, relevant to their own development, while traditions are valued as defining elements of both personal and collective identity. The civic dimension is integrated through the assumption of responsibility toward heritage and active participation in community life. From a pedagogical perspective, the elective course seeks to contribute to the development of the general competencies outlined in the curriculum, facilitating the understanding of the Romanian cultural specificity, the exploration of relevant sources, and the recognition of traditions in diverse contexts. The study’s findings support the integration of this elective course into the high school curriculum as a means of promoting intercultural education and active citizenship.

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