It is desirable and necessary to historically understand the origin of the polytechnic conception associated to the integrated education, as well as the very own integrated education, two terms whose polysemy may lead to different and even opposing interpretations. Both the polytechnic and the integral education conceptions can be found in literature connected to the school education, even if not exclusively referring to it. The purpose of this paper is twofold. On the one hand, it is intended to place both conceptions within the theoretical universe of the historical materialism, being pointed out that, as they are not exclusive from this universe, they can be found in other universes, with different meanings. On the other hand, it is intended to examine, in details, how two key authors - Marx and Gramsci - develop their views regarding the relationships between education and work mediated by the polytechnic conception and the integral education, and, in a very summarized manner, which are the similarities and differences between then, in regards to this issue.
work-education relationship; polytechnic; one-sidedness