Scuola, famiglia e bisogni di riconoscimento. Una sfida etica

The essay aims at highlighting the educational co-responsibility between school and family as mutual recognition path. The theoretical reference of the reflection are the writings of the philosopher P. Ricoeur on this issue. More precisely, the paper intends first to clarify the meaning of the phrase "recognition needs", taking childhood experience as a model of human experience in general; then, to show how recognition needs of the child call for corresponding responsibilities educational. Therefore, the contemporary difficulties in relations between school and family can be seen in light of incapacity of parents to take specific care of one of the two needs of recognition of their children and of living in light of this their responsibility - and therefore co-responsibility - educational. Finally, the essay asks if these parents really are themselves bearers of recognition needs, often not recognized. In this perspective, the school can be reconsidered as an educational place with specifications characteristics and potential, not only for the sake of students, but also of their parents and the whole community.