Teachers’ unions in Europe and Hungary in the 19th century

Abstract

A review of the historiography on associations reveals a substantial corpus of international and national literature on the subject, spanning the last century. This research has facilitated the development of legal, statistical, political and social historical analyses, offering a more comprehensive perspective on the evolution of civilisation as reflected by the functioning of social circles, various forms of self-organisation, civil organisations and associations. In this context, teachers’ and teachers’ associations have been observed to emerge in numerous Western countries from the late 18th century onwards. From the 19th century onward, with the expansion of schooling and the development of teacher training, a significant number of associations were established to promote education, the professionalisation of teachers and teachers’ professionalism, and the advancement of their professional interests. In Hungary, the development of teachers’ associations was significantly bolstered by the Act of 1868: XXXVIII. The present study delineates the pivotal steps and achievements of the organisation of teachers' associations in Hungary during the 18th and 19th centuries, while also offering a concise international perspective and an overview of the research history of this subject. A close analysis of national and local examples is undertaken to demonstrate the pivotal role of teachers’ unions in the spheres of self-education, further education, the provision of aid and the advocacy of teachers. In the context of professionalisation and social modernisation, the members of the teachers’ unions played a pivotal role, not only in the domains of education and culture, but also in the modernisation of agriculture and crafts, and in the realm of social welfare.