From draft laws to the “model schools”. Paths of centralization in Liberal Italy vocational commercial education

The paper aims at analysing the history of the first vocational commercial schools in Italy between 1861 and 1913, through the methods implemented by the quantitative history and the so-called “history of concept” (Begriffgeschichte). Following these approaches, it will be shown that in late XIX century the term “professional schools” assumed a different meaning from the present one; furthermore, the article is going to highlight social differences between pupils’ enrolled in commercial daily schools and the ones enrolled in evening commercial classes. However, the primary focus will be on the foundation of the first State-led commercial school in Rome, in 1902. The foundation marked a pivotal change into the history of vocational schools, which it had been marked by the prevalence of local initiatives. The article demonstrates State-led initiative paved the way for a growing involvement of the Italian State in the domain of vocational education, which would have been deeply reformed between 1907 and 1913.