The word as a pedagogical sign: Lessons from fairy tales

Research objectives (aims) and problem(s): Education—in all its manifestations—is a process that enables people to grow and improve. In educational institutions, this process takes place through teaching, understood as the transmission of knowledge through signs; and for the teacher, the most significant sign is the word. Its pedagogical power is so great and mysterious that, when used well, it educates. To explain this aspect, this paper aims to provide a theoretical discussion of the educational power of words through fairy tales. Specifically, we seek to identify the difference between education and teaching, the importance of words in both processes, and to present an example from a case study in which the narrated words of stories convey educational elements because they reflect goodness, truth, and beauty. Research methods: This research is qualitative in nature, and the methods used included bibliographic review and analysis. In addition, data from a previous study of our own—a case study based on a survey technique—were incorporated and valued for the purposes of this work. Process of argumentation: The argumentation process was characterized by the identification of central ideas, the relationships between concepts, and examples drawn from the results of earlier research. Research findings and their impact on the development of educational sciences: Among the most significant findings, we note that the influence of stories has withstood the test of time due to their richness, depth, and meaning. This influence emerges through experiences of reading or listening to stories, the words associated with these readings, identification with the characters, and the reflection of human nature expressed in them. Conclusions and/or recommendations: In conclusion, we find that stories exert a great influence on people because of the beauty, truth, and goodness that they convey. The word that emerges from them becomes a necessary sign in education, which leads people toward their personal fulfillment.