The Presidential Library’s video lecture portrayed the famous Soviet teacher Anton Semenovich Makarenko

In the Year of Teachers and Mentors, the Presidential Library hosted a video lecture marking the 135th anniversary of the famous Soviet teacher Anton Semenovich Makarenko (1888-1939) as part of the Knowledge of Russia project.

The greatest practicing teacher, writer and expert in adolescent psychology, Anton Makarenko has received worldwide recognition for his system of upbringing and re-education of children and teenagers with difficult characters. In 1988, Makarenko was named by UNESCO as one of the four pillars (alongside John Dewey, Georg Kerschensteiner and Maria Montessori) that defined the way of pedagogical thinking in the 20th century.

At the video lecture, Doctor of Pedagogical Sciences, Deputy Director for Academic Affairs of the Institute of Food Technology and Design (a branch of the Nizhny Novgorod State University of Engineering and Economics), laureate of the Government of the Russian Federation in the field of education Elena Ilaltdinova told about Makarenko’s work on the formation of his personality, about his contribution to the development of pedagogy, including the organizational frameworks of the teamwork and labor as pedagogical means.

Doctor of Pedagogical Sciences, Professor of the Department of Pedagogy of Primary Education and Development of Children’s Creativity of the Institute of Childhood at the Herzen State Pedagogical University of Russia, member of the Academic Council on the History of Education and Pedagogical Science of the State Academy of Sciences, the Russian Academy of Education, member of the Association of Professors of Slavic Countries Eleonora Onishchenko discussed the original pedagogical theory and practice of Anton Semenovich Makarenko, as well as the activities of the famous teacher in terms of their originality, the reflection of modern trends in the reform of domestic education in the conditions of active innovation of various educational organizations.

Candidate of Pedagogical Sciences, Deputy Chairman for Science of the St. Cyril and Methodius Orthodox Pedagogical Society Olga Belyanova spoke about the development of educational ideas of Anton Semenovich Makarenko in Leningrad-St. Petersburg in the second half of the 20th – early 21st century. She touched upon the educational activities of the St. Petersburg branch of the International Makarenko Association, formed in 2004, the contribution of scientists and teachers of the Herzen University to Makarenko studies, as well as experimental sites for educating teenagers in work and creativity, in caring for the world around (on the example of the Nadezhda (Hope) family commune, the Novoye Pokoleniye (New Generation) children’s production association, etc.).

The video lecture is available on the Rutube-channel of the institution.

The event at the Presidential Library, timed to coincide with the 135th anniversary of Anton Makarenko, was the second in a series dedicated to the history of education in Russia. At the first video lecture on February 21, 2023, famous scientists told about the founder of Russian scientific pedagogy Konstantin Ushinsky. The recording of the event is available on the Rutube-channel of the Presidential Library.

The Presidential Library regularly holds interactive lessons and video lectures. Detailed information is available on the institution’s portal in the Multimedia Lessons section and in the Video Lectures for School heading. Video recordings of lectures and open lessons are also available there.