Neophytos Ducas (1760-1845) and his educational work: Contribution in the history of new greek education

Neophytos Ducas (1760-1845) from Ano Soudena (now called Ano Pedina) of Zagori, Ioannina, is one of the most important and prominent scholars of the Greek Nation who worked for the spiritual rebirth of the Hellenism, during the pro - and post - revolution period (1800-1845). This research gives light to unknown so far aspects of this Epirote scholar’s educational work and presents his contribution to the modern greek education through the use of anecdotic record matterial and rich bibliography (greek and foreign). The basic aim of this research is the clear presentation of Neophytos Ducas ideological incentives and educational orientation. N. Ducas has to present teaching and writing work during the period of the European and Modern-Greek Enlightenment. His long lasting fights, for the establishment and the improvement of the schools in Greek and abroad, his hard-working efforts to establish hieratic Schools with view to the good grounding of the clergy, the publication of many school books which were given for free to school and communal libraries for the good of the greek youth, are some of the aspects of N. D.’s educational work. The historic-critical method is being used in the scholastic examination of these aspects. There is a special mention on the basic educational principles, the teaching methods and the penitentiary educational proposals of N. Ducas. All these are being compared to analogous methods of modern school books of High-Scool and Lyceum. This research also includes conclusions and remarks. It is concluded, among others, that the general educational principles of N. Ducas do not loose their value over time and they are being accepted by many modern teachers in everyday practice and procedure. Finally, this research pinpoints the lack of this prominent Scholar’s good use of work. This is possible through the teaching of modern-greek texts and is, in our opinion, holly duty of Greeks towards him, who contributed not only to the rebirth of the Greek education, but also to the restoration of the Greek Nation