Man's upbringing and education are processes that are extremely important for the formation of a full-fledged society. The science of the laws of upbringing and education of a person is called pedagogy. From this article you will learn more about the history, categories and functions of this science.
The history of pedagogy: basic information
The concept of "pedagogy" is the result of the merger of two ancient Greek words: "paydos" ("child") and "yeah" ("news"). As a result, we got a "teacher", that is, a teacher. It is curious that in Ancient Greece the word "teacher" was understood literally: the so-called slave, whose responsibility was to accompany the child to school and pick him up from there.
For the first time on pedagogy as an independent science, and not as part of philosophy, in the first quarter of the 17th century, the Englishman Francis Bacon, a philosopher, the author of the work “On the Dignity and Advancement of Sciences”, spoke.
It is there that he calls pedagogy along with other sciences already known to society.
Until about the middle of the last century, pedagogy was looked at as a science that relates mainly to children. But in the 20th century, higher education ceases to be a privilege accessible only to the rich, and is gaining mass distribution. In this regard, in the 50s. XX century, it became clear that the findings of pedagogy are applicable not only to children, but also to adults (students, for example). This discovery expanded the field of scientific activity, but first corrected the wording itself. From now on, pedagogy is a science about the laws of upbringing and education of a person in general, and not just a child.
What does pedagogy study?
Pedagogy considers the patterns of upbringing of a growing person. In other words, at the center of this science is the process of transferring accumulated knowledge to the younger generation by the older generation, and from the younger generation - the process of active perception of the knowledge gained. Pedagogy is close to psychology. Since the science we are considering is inextricably linked with the human factor, therefore, the teacher should almost first of all learn how to solve problems related to the human and, in particular, children's psyche, because he works with living human material. A competent teacher is able to use the characteristics of child psychology to their advantage.
Pedagogy Categories
Consider the main categories of science on the laws of upbringing and education of man.
- Development. This is the general process of forming a growing human personality. People tend to change throughout their lives. It would be more correct to say that they are constantly, continuously changing. This applies to children to a greater extent than to adults. Moreover, middle and senior school age falls at the same time as transitional. And transitional age is one of the most important centers of development in human life.
- Parenting. Despite the fact that development is primarily a process that is carried out within the personality, the development of the child needs competent guidance and direction from the outside. This guide and direction is called education. This is a daily, laborious, process. Its purpose is the development of all aspects of the personality, which the teacher considers obligatory for the successful existence of a person in society.
- Education. In fact, it is part of both development and upbringing, but so vast and time-consuming part that it was singled out in a separate category. Education implies familiarity with the most important experience of previous generations, generalized in the form of specific knowledge.
- Training. It follows directly from the previous paragraph and represents its implementation. The learning process, as, in fact, the entire pedagogical process, is a two-way activity. In this case, the student and teacher. The student is engaged in teaching, the teacher is teaching.
- General pedagogy. This is a theoretical part of science. She studies all of the above categories and is engaged in the formation of forms, means and methods of successful education and training. General pedagogy develops fundamental laws, that is, laws common to all age categories.
They also distinguish pedagogical psychology, pedagogy of higher education (it studies the issues of pedagogical activity in secondary and higher educational institutions, forced labor pedagogy (its main goal is re-education).
Pedagogy functions
There are two main functions of pedagogy as a science:
- Theoretical. Its essence is the tracking, systematization and description of innovative experience that arises in practice; diagnostics of existing pedagogical systems; conducting experiments and experiments. This function is more directly related to science.
- Technological. It includes: the development of plans, training programs, projects and teaching aids, that is, materials streamlining pedagogical work; introduction of innovations in practical pedagogical activity; analysis of performance. This function is more associated with practical work.
Conclusion
Pedagogy is the only science whose subject of study is the education of man. It is in demand in all societies that have crossed the primitive stage of development. That is why pedagogy can probably be called the science of the laws most important for society.