Michel Montaigne as teacher-educator: the need to experiment a proper pedagogical position

This paper presents Michel Montaigne´s thought as a way of interpreting some aspects of contemporary teacher education. First, it characterizes the notions of experiment and experience, analyzes their relationship, and discusses them as guidelines for an educational project based on the serious consideration of personal life. From this point of view, the paper continues presents two challenges identified by Russell (2012). First, the claim that when beginning their training, education students have difficulty in articulating what teaching is about. Second, the assertion that university course professors are usually not the same people that guide students through their practicum. The paper concludes by proposing the possibility of a pedagogical position experiment. This would be an educational experience as such, that would allow both experienced and novice teachers to manifest, discuss, and articulate the basic assumptions by which they guide their daily work.

KEYWORDS:
Montaigne; Experience; Experiment; Teacher education; Pedagogical position