IVAN SIKORSKY (1842-1919) ABOUT THE VALUE OF PUPILS' CHARACTER REFERENCES: THEORETICAL AND PRACTICAL ASPECTS

• Олександр Міхно

  Педагогічний музей України

It is emphasized that consideration of the issue of pupils' character references in the historical and pedagogical perspective is complicated by the mixing of two adjacent, but essentially different tasks — psychological and pedagogical; the joint work of psychologists and educators provides valuable material for the elucidation of psychological principles and methods of compiling character references and at the same time defines the path to solving practical pedagogical tasks. The contribution of Ivan Sikorskiy to the development of the issue of pupils' character references through research of theoretical views and practical activities of the scientist is determined. It is proved that I. Sikorsky combined the hypostasis of a scientist and a teacher in his person, developing both theoretical and practical aspects of studying the pupil, — compiling the character reference on the basis of this study. Proceeding from his ideas about harmony in the development of the three spheres of the psyche — reason, will and feeling, the scientist insisted on their comprehensive study by the methods of experiment, observation, studying the circumstances of life of children in preschool and school periods, analysis of school documentation about pupils.

 In a generalized form, the scientific contribution of I. Sikorsky to the development of the issue of character references in the the form of such a chain of interrelated actions of the scientist: conducting the psychological and pedagogical experiment which was the first in the world pedagogy → the definition of the theoretical foundations of studying the pupil → clarification of the purpose of compiling the character reference with emphasis not only on ascertaining nature, but also on its forecasting nature as well → developing a plan for studying the child (the structure of the future character reference).

The table shows the theoretical arguments of I. Sikorsky concerning the purpose, the value of the pupil's character reference and the plan for studying the child, which is a structure of the future character reference at the same time.

 It is emphasized that the study of the pupil and the compilation of his character reference, according to I. Sikorsky, has not only a statement but also a forecasting character, when the teacher, guided by the existing level of development and the forecast for the future, reflected in the character reference, builds a system of education of a particular pupil.

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