THE CONCEPT OF LABOUR BY SOPHIA RUSOVA AND THE WAYS OF IST REALIZATION IN THE SYSTEM ‘PRESCHOOL ESTABLISHMENT – THE SCHOOL OF DOING’

Abstract

In the context of metamorphoses that the state of Ukraine and the Ukrainian school go through, it is expedient to study and retrospectively analyse pedagogical thought of a specific historical period in order to find answers and form mature solutions to complex issues that arise in modern conditions. Due to certain similarity of historical circumstances, theoretical works and practical realization of ideas of Ukrainian pedagogues from the begin of the XXth century have deep potential as an ideological-inspiring source for contemporaneity. Based on the study of original sources using the comparative theoretical analysis and analytical generalization, the article summarizes the leading ideas of Sophia Rusova on the ways of implementing the concept of labour (activity method of teaching) in the system of preschool institutions and active (labor) school in the 20s of the XXth century. Recommendations for the use of this method are specified, taking into account the age of children and the specifics of the school subjects. Based on the analysis of Sophia Rusova’s works (“New School of Social Education”, “Theory and Practice of Preschool Education”, “Unified Active (Labor) School”, “Extracurricular Education”), the advantages of the labour method, its potential for the formation and development of the child’s personality has been investigated. The connection of Sofia Rusova’s ideas with the classical European pedagogical thought and practical application of such educational concepts in the European countries is traced. Emphasis is placed on the agreement of Sofia Rusova’s ideas on the advantages of the activity method of teaching with the task of reforming the national education system in Ukraine at the beginning of the XXIst century.