“True freedom consisted in the spontaneous fusion of the
individual with the collectivity” Mussolini and his Minister of
Public Instruction, Giovanni Gentile, held this position. They
used this idea to increase “fascistization” in education.
Gentile was given the task to restructure Italy’s educational
system for a few key reasons. 1. To ensure the universities
produced students who were prepared to regenerate the Italian
nation. 2. To debar working and lower middle class children from
“acquiring ambitions above their station.” 3. Most importantly,
that those who graduated from secondary schools and universities
would feel bound to the national community. To do this,
secondary schools focused greatly on classical studies, Latin,
literature, history, philosophy, and religion, because these
subjects were expected to transmit the “spiritual essence of
Italy.” This led to the introduction of the state exam for
private and public schools and the salute to the flag daily. The
ministry had larger control over teache