Giulia Civita Franceschi Explained

Giulia Civita Franceschi (Naples, 1870 – 27 October 1957) was an Italian educator. She directed from 1913 to 1923 kindergarten ship Caracciolo where 750 scugnizzi (underclass Neapolitan street children) were rescued and educated with her own method,^[1] becoming "citizens".^[2]

Her experience, before being shut down by fascism,^[3] was studied worldwide, including a visit from a Japan state delegation in the twenties; she's also called "the Montessori of the sea".^[1] An exhibition was opened on her story at the Sea Museum of Naples in 2009.^[4]

The Caracciolo was a corvette built in 1869 and donated by the Italian navy in 1913.^[5]

Notes and References

1. R.A.M. - La nave asilo Caracciolo, RAI Storia.
2. Maria Antonietta Selvaggio, From urchins to sailors: an educative and civic experiment in Naples (1913-1928) The story of “Caracciolo”, between poverty, social solidarity and education challenges.
3. http://www2.iisg.nl/esshc/programme.asp?selyear=12&pap=11253 9th European Social Science History Conference Glasgow, Scotland, UK Wednesday 11 - Saturday 14 April 2012
4. http://www.comune.napoli.it/flex/cm/pages/ServeBLOB.php/L/EN/IDPagina/9574/UT/systemPrint From Scugnizzi to Sailors Photo-documentary Exhibition. The experience of the Kindergarten Ship Caracciolo from April 17th to May, at the Sea Museum of Naples
5. Giulia Civita Franceschi and the Ship of "Scugnizzi" , Progetto Mediterranea.