Where to find the sources
Page 1 of 4
The juridical texts are usually accessible through those tools that the theory of the law defines the so-called “fonti di cognizione” (see, in Italian, the juridical on line dictionary: Dizionario Giuridico Simone on-line), that is the means through which it is possible to know the existence of juridical rules. These sources “publish” the contents, which are posed by the “fonti di produzi-one” (the rules in themselves): they do not give birth to a new rule, but they rather allow every-body to know what is in force. “Fonti di cognizione” are the Raccolte di usi, the Gazzetta Ufficiale, the Bollettini ufficiali of Regions (but actually, differently from the Raccolte di usi, rather the Gazzetta Ufficiale and Bollettini ufficiali constitute the same legal texts of the rules in them-selves, and the publishing is just necessary in order to give them force of law).
The school legislation and, in general, the documentation related to the school world, can be found in the principal institutions of conservation, such as Archives and Libraries.
Archives
With the word archives we mean the complex of documentation which has been pro-duced/acquired by a body, a person, a family, an organization, during its own life and activity. According to the Italian school, the Archive is divided into three sections: archivio corrente, which contains current files; archivio di deposito, containing “closed” files; archivio storico, containing files which have been closed at least 40 years ago, and to be preserved for the future. The term archives also means the physical place for the conservation11.
State Central Archive – Archivio Centrale dello Stato
In connection with our topic, in the Archivio Centrale dello Stato are preserved all acts by the Ministry of Education and its internal offices, from the “Consiglio superiore della Pubblica Istruzione” (1849-1966) to the several “Divisioni”, from the “Direzione Generale Istruzione Superio-re” (1908-1961), to the “Direzione Generale Istruzione media” with its many “Divisions” (1861-1929), the “Direzione Generale Istruzione Classica Scientifica e Magistrale” (since 1929) etc. The ministerial archives reflect the complex institutional history over the years, and the devel-opment of the organization of the basic functions related to instruction, schools of each level, li-braries and academies, and finally the preservation of cultural heritage. On line several tools are available, among which we should mention the Guida ai fondi dell'Archivio Centrale dello Stato by Paola Carucci (updated in June 2004).
11 See, in Italian, the Glossario of archival words, by Paola D’Arcangelo on the web site Rete di Documentazione sugli studi di genere Lilith; in English, see the definition of “Archives” in the Glossary of Archival and Records Terminology. On line is also available the material of the lessons Il piacere dell’archivio (a course organised by Artemisia, Cooperativa delle donne, Wow, in partnership with the Rete delle donne in Toscana).
