The history and culture of any nation contains the foundation for the patriotic education of the younger generation. The problem will not lose its relevance for a long time. This is how a person works. For the harmonious development of the personality, it is extremely important to understand your place, purpose, mission in the time frame of your biological existence. All these thoughts will inevitably lead to discussions about patriotism, the homeland and everything connected with it. However, without understanding the basic foundations, such reasoning can lead very far, so the issue of proper patriotic upbringing of children has been and is being paid rather close attention. Sometimes this led to excesses.
The concept of patriotism
A brief definition of this term means a moral principle that requires unconditionally loving your homeland, people and, if necessary, to give your life, defending the formed way for centuries. This definition also implies own identification with other members of the people in which the individual was born. Pride in history, culture. In everyday life, patriotism has few manifestations. Its significance and role grow only in especially difficult times (wars, cataclysms). Rather, it is a rush of special sacrifice, rallying and feeling oneself a part of something big, great.
Forms of Patriotism
One of the first forms of such manifestation can be called polisnost or polis patriotism. It has been known since ancient times by the example of ancient Greek cities and states at the same time. As an example, the policy is the state of Athens.
Imperial. A rather interesting type of this phenomenon. Here, the key unifying role for all the peoples living is played by the person of the ruler.
Nationalism (ethnic). It is based on the love and adoration of one’s own ethnic group and culture, while representatives of other peoples are belittled or hostile, even if they live in one state, being its citizens.
State patriotism - respect, support for the state system of government. Peoples may be different in ethnicity, religion. However, all citizens feel themselves to be full members of society, united through various institutions of state power.
Hooray-patriotism. Hypertrophied sense of love for the state.
As can be seen from the foregoing, such an abundance of various forms requires taking the issue of patriotic education of children very seriously. Ambiguous interpretations and uncertainty are inappropriate here.
Sparta
The fame of the Spartans thundered throughout Hellas. Being a state with one of the most powerful armies in that era, Sparta attached great importance to the training and education of the young generation. Children were taken from their parents as soon as they turned 6 years old.
The military-patriotic education of the Spartan youth was the business of the whole community. There were too many external threats, and the local population of Helots, who were in the position of slaves, which were the property of the state, also needed to be controlled. Having chosen this path of development, Sparta subjugated the life of all its citizens to military needs.
From about the age of 14, teenagers in groups (agels) began to take part in nightly punitive actions (crypts) against the local population. The Spartans were afraid of the Helots, believing that the night raids on their villages would not only suppress any desire for resistance, but would also provide an excellent opportunity to get the first battle experience to the aliens. In fact, agels are the first terrorist organization in the history of mankind.
Similar "patriotic education" tried to revive the Nazis in Germany. What came of it is known.
The importance of working with preschoolers
In modern society, the approach to the education of patriotic feelings has changed. Children are the most curious creatures in the world. They willingly make contact and very subtly feel the edges of what is happening around. They have many questions that sometimes annoy adults. It is important to show patience in pedagogical activity. Love for the Motherland is transformed out of love for its small homeland. Therefore, it is so important to instill and nurture interest in one’s roots, native places.
In addition, the patriotic education of preschoolers also includes the formation of tolerance towards other peoples and their traditions. This is the foundation of value guidelines for the subsequent harmonious development of the individual.
Strength and measure of vital activity of a citizen
It is understood that the presence of patriotism assumes an active role of the individual in various sociocultural relations of society. Such an individual is not an outside observer, but the most active participant in all the processes taking place in his state. This should occur naturally, flowing out of beliefs and a personal position on a particular issue.
The appearance of such qualities is possible only with the authority of adults in children who very subtly feel any falsity. A sense of responsibility for oneself, one’s fate and life, without separating it from one’s people, also does not appear from scratch. Only the actions and concrete actions of all adults can sow the seeds of good in the soul of a child.
It is necessary to highlight and briefly characterize the most promising areas of moral and patriotic education of children. Be sure to describe their main goals and objectives.
Sports and patriotic education
The main goal is not only strengthening, preventing physical health with obtaining certain useful skills. Along the way, the child has an understanding of a healthy lifestyle and the presence of competition, struggle, so necessary for any personal growth. Having matured, such a person takes for granted the existence of confrontation in any area of life. His natural response will be the mobilization of all resources in order to become better in his chosen field.
Civil-patriotic education
Forms a clear civic position with a willingness to voluntarily serve his country. The emphasis is on the development of law obedience, the adoption of rules, norms, laws of the state. Willingness to fulfill your civic duty. The basis for this type of education is the existing legal framework between a citizen and the state. It ensures the implementation of the fundamental rights and freedoms of a citizen.
Military-patriotic development of children
The highest form of patriotic education of the younger generation, based on a clear understanding, understanding of the need to master applied skills to protect their state. It is based on the military traditions inherent in this nation and a sense of pride in its Armed Forces, military history, etc. It is this area that gives the most complete picture of the hardships of serving in the army, allowing the young man to seriously think about a military career.
Education of patriotism in the spirit of heroism
Heroic-patriotic education is a necessary component of the pedagogical process, the purpose of which is aimed at developing among young people a sense of pride in their people. As an example, biographies of its glorious representatives, significant events and memorable dates are presented. As a model, you can take the restoration of some heroic battle.
How the school works in this direction
The worldview of a child is very different from an adult. In the service of perception, there is vivid visualization, emotionality. The reaction to significant events is stormy. For successful assimilation of information, it is necessary that it becomes meaningful. When studying history, teachers ask the student to compose his family tree. You can cope with this task only by connecting adults from your family. Their stories will help the student to perceive those historical events, the participants and witnesses of which were his relatives.
The most important significant source of information about heroic events are veterans. Communication with them causes pride among schoolchildren for their people and the values of Victory. That is precisely what patriotic education at school is aimed at.
The social environment plays an equally important role in the emergence of feelings of love for the motherland. She is a way of behavior, and children are the best imitators in the world, from whose eyes no nuance is hidden. Loose foundations, reappraisal of spiritual values always negatively affect the life of the whole society. The youngest generation is again the most vulnerable in this situation , in dire need of role models.
State concern for ensuring continuity of generations
The collapse of the USSR was reflected in all spheres of life of the once fraternal republics. Unfortunately, many of the achievements of Soviet pedagogy, which is not the worst in the world, were lost. Everyone so passionately stigmatized ideology, destroyed, and reformed the system of education and upbringing. Thanks to all these actions, the level of education has fallen. A whole generation has appeared, whose main guideline is success at all costs, and patriotism is being replaced by outright nationalism, chauvinism and fascism. Oil is added to the fire by “Western partners”, who consider themselves infallible.
The highest political leadership of Russia adopted the State program "Patriotic education of citizens of the Russian Federation for 2016-2020." It says that the implementation of mechanisms for its implementation will be based on improving the work of all institutions of state power.
This is a whole complex of concrete measures, of various events the main purpose of which is the revival of the powerful youth education system.