Ellen Key’s Views on a Few Modern Primary School Educational Points – Development of Critical Thinking, Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) and Global Citizenship Education (GCED), Connections to Real-World Knowledge and Learning

Viktoriia Chorna (Sodertorn University)

Journal of Pedagogical and Teacher Professional Development
Vol. 3 No. 1 (2026): Journal of Pedagogical and Teacher Professional Development, July 2026

This article presents the results of a study of the professional legacy of Swedish difference feminist and educator Ellen Key (1849–1926). Two texts were selected for analysis: The Century of the Child (one of Key’s principal pedagogical works) and Education. A Few Suggestions (a text that provides insight into the primary school teacher’s understanding of three contemporary educational issues, Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) and Global Citizenship Education (GCED), critical thinking, and connections between real-world knowledge and learning). The purpose of this article is to examine and evaluate Key’s educational legacy in relation to contemporary primary education issues, including globalization and sustainability, critical thinking, and the relationship between learning and real-world knowledge. The findings confirm the relevance of these educational issues within Key’s pedagogical system and provide a clearer understanding of how they were interpreted in her educational philosophy.