In memoriam of the master Joan Pagès: Teaching social sciences for a better world

Abstract

In this introduction we would like to review some of the essential themes that characterised the work of our master Joan Pagès. Joan liked the concept of "master", he considered it to be one of the most beautiful and highest-ranking words in existence. In fact, he was, first and foremost, a master and that is how he proudly defined himself. His great concern was always how to improve social teaching and learning, how to educate a more critical, more democratic, more committed citizenry.  So we will take a brief look at some of the topics on which he researched and reflected, on which he debated with enthusiasm and to which he made contributions that have helped those of us who believe that the teaching of social sciences can serve to achieve a better world. We recall here some of his most important contributions, but we do not intend to show his work, which covers nearly 400 publications and a large number of topics, from the teaching of historical time, memory and historical awareness, curriculum, teacher training, economic, legal and political education, education for citizenship, participation, work based on social problems or socially live issues, social and civic competence, critical social thinking, among others. We only intend to point out some aspects of his work, as an example of the transcendence of his work. This introduction serves as a preamble to the different authors who have wished to participate in this issue of REIDICS, and who complete this monographic tribute to the master.