I.P. Ivanov
Encyclopedia
Igor Petrovich Ivanov (1923–1992) was a Soviet pedagogue, initiator and founder of the "social-pedagogical youth movement" known in Russia as the Communard movement. He was a member of the Soviet Academy of Pedagogy, full professor of the Herzen Pedagogical State University
, author of several books, laureate of the Makarenko Prize named after early Soviet educator Anton Makarenko
. Russian scholars consider Igor Ivanov to be a creator of the "Communard methodology" or, as the author himself called it, the Collective Creative Deeds methodology (commonly referred to as Metodologiya Kollektivnich Tvorcheskich del (KTD) in Russian pedagogical literature), founder of the "pedagogy of partnership", which is also named "collective creative pedagogy" and "pedagogy of social creativity". Ivanov's scholarly works continued the development of Creative Pedagogy
.
Igor Ivanov laid foundation for the Communard movement in the mid-1950s in Leningrad
by gathering young teachers and instructors from several schools into a creative group called Union of Enthusiasts (Soyuz Entuziastov). In this Union, during the years of 1956-1958, Ivanov developed and began to implement his ideas concerning the involvement of teenagers into a prototype of youth social organization which would not impose strict dogmatic rules on its participants. This was in contrast to Communists' practice at that time when most social activities in post-World War II Soviet schools were under the auspices of the pro-communist Pioneer organization
. Yet, the death of Stalin
in 1953 and the ascension of Nikita Khrushchev
to power in 1955 led to certain liberalization of Soviet society. And Ivanov's actions were strictly in context of those changes.
In 1959, Union of Enthusiasts led by Igor Ivanov and his close colleguages including Ludmila Borisova and F. Shapiro gave birth to an organization of high-school students - Commune of Frunze High Schoolers (Kommuna Yunych Frunzentsov), named so after the Frunze
High School in Leningrad. In the core of this Commune was an active, creative, organizational pedagogical mechanism developed by Ivanov. The organization had a voluntary membership and promoted, yet in unobtrusive and implicit manner, the author's Collective Creative Deeds methodology. The main idea behind it was that participants (communards), both children and adult instructors, could choose their own actions, participate in cooperative and creative activities, and make deeds which are sincere care about the world around and the development of each and every one, chivalrous service to the good, creative enthusiasm, democratism, partnership, cheerful mood and spirit of freedom. In 1962, the ideas implemented in the Frunze commune were seeded in Orlyonok
, one of the major Pioneer camps, and the Orlyonok participants of that year spread ideas about Collective Creative Deeds to many other regions of the country creating numerous school and college-based pedagogical clubs and communes. In one year, the popularity grew so massive that in the summer of 1963 the Communard movement culminated in a first, all-Soviet Young Communard convention in Orlyonok. In part, the popularity of the Communard movement was due to initial support from Komsomolskaya Pravda
, the official newspaper of Communist Union of Youth
, especially from Simon Soloveychik
, who worked in the 1960s in the newspaper and was assigned to display the Communard movement. As political climate changed when Nikita Khrushchev
was replaced by Leonid Brezhnev
in 1964, the Communard movement as an individial trend could not be supported by Komsomol
any longer. In 1965-1966, many communes were integrated into Pioneer and Komsomol local organizations and could not act independent of the directions from Communist party
. While opinions of Russian pedagogues on the implementation of the Communard clubs in then Soviet education system vary over a broad range, most scholars agree on the positive effect of the ideas behind the movement on the development of free thinking, creativity and social adaptability in Soviet teenagers.
The Ivanov's Collective Creative Deeds methodology was not only the foundation for the youth Communard movement. Ivanov went on to develop his ideas into "pedagogy of cooperative care" which he described in several comprehensive publications. In 1960-1970, Ivanov has performed most of the practical work in collaboration with his own group of students in Makarenko Commune, a union of college students in Herzen University
. One of the Ivanov's known books - "Encyclopedia of Collective Creative Deeds" is still popular among the pedagogical communities of Russia. It has promoted examples for hundreds of school teachers on how to conduct education through creative activities such as role playing, science-fiction projects, quiz tournaments, relay races, pen pal correspondence and many other activities which involved collaborative and interactive elements for participants.
In 1998 in Saint-Petersburg a book by his wife Lubov Ivanova "Future in the present – life and work of Igor Petrovich Ivanov" was published, timed to All-Russian congress of the followers of Igor Ivanov "Education and school at the turn of the 21st century".
Herzen University
The State Russian Herzen Pedagogical University is one of the largest universities in Russia. Located in Saint Petersburg, it operates 20 faculties and more than 100 departments. Embroidered in its structure are the Institute of Pre-University Courses, the Institute of Continuous Professional...
, author of several books, laureate of the Makarenko Prize named after early Soviet educator Anton Makarenko
Anton Makarenko
Anton Semenovych Makarenko was a Ukrainian and Soviet educator and writer, who promoted democratic ideas and principles in educational theory and practice. As one of the founders of Soviet pedagogy, he elaborated the theory and methodology of upbringing in self-governing child collectives and...
. Russian scholars consider Igor Ivanov to be a creator of the "Communard methodology" or, as the author himself called it, the Collective Creative Deeds methodology (commonly referred to as Metodologiya Kollektivnich Tvorcheskich del (KTD) in Russian pedagogical literature), founder of the "pedagogy of partnership", which is also named "collective creative pedagogy" and "pedagogy of social creativity". Ivanov's scholarly works continued the development of Creative Pedagogy
Creative Pedagogy
Creative Pedagogy is the science and art of creative teaching. It is a sub-field of Pedagogy, opposed to Critical pedagogy...
.
Igor Ivanov laid foundation for the Communard movement in the mid-1950s in Leningrad
Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg is a city and a federal subject of Russia located on the Neva River at the head of the Gulf of Finland on the Baltic Sea...
by gathering young teachers and instructors from several schools into a creative group called Union of Enthusiasts (Soyuz Entuziastov). In this Union, during the years of 1956-1958, Ivanov developed and began to implement his ideas concerning the involvement of teenagers into a prototype of youth social organization which would not impose strict dogmatic rules on its participants. This was in contrast to Communists' practice at that time when most social activities in post-World War II Soviet schools were under the auspices of the pro-communist Pioneer organization
Pioneer movement
A pioneer movement is an organization for children operated by a communist party. Typically children enter into the organization in elementary school and continue until adolescence. The adolescents then typically joined the Young Communist League...
. Yet, the death of Stalin
Joseph Stalin
Joseph Vissarionovich Stalin was the Premier of the Soviet Union from 6 May 1941 to 5 March 1953. He was among the Bolshevik revolutionaries who brought about the October Revolution and had held the position of first General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union's Central Committee...
in 1953 and the ascension of Nikita Khrushchev
Nikita Khrushchev
Nikita Sergeyevich Khrushchev led the Soviet Union during part of the Cold War. He served as First Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union from 1953 to 1964, and as Chairman of the Council of Ministers, or Premier, from 1958 to 1964...
to power in 1955 led to certain liberalization of Soviet society. And Ivanov's actions were strictly in context of those changes.
In 1959, Union of Enthusiasts led by Igor Ivanov and his close colleguages including Ludmila Borisova and F. Shapiro gave birth to an organization of high-school students - Commune of Frunze High Schoolers (Kommuna Yunych Frunzentsov), named so after the Frunze
Mikhail Frunze
Mikhail Vasilyevich Frunze was a Bolshevik leader during and just prior to the Russian Revolution of 1917.-Life and Political Activity:Frunze was born in Bishkek, then a small Imperial Russian garrison town in the Kyrgyz part of Turkestan, to a Moldovan medical practitioner and his Russian wife...
High School in Leningrad. In the core of this Commune was an active, creative, organizational pedagogical mechanism developed by Ivanov. The organization had a voluntary membership and promoted, yet in unobtrusive and implicit manner, the author's Collective Creative Deeds methodology. The main idea behind it was that participants (communards), both children and adult instructors, could choose their own actions, participate in cooperative and creative activities, and make deeds which are sincere care about the world around and the development of each and every one, chivalrous service to the good, creative enthusiasm, democratism, partnership, cheerful mood and spirit of freedom. In 1962, the ideas implemented in the Frunze commune were seeded in Orlyonok
Orlyonok
Orlyonok was one of the main Soviet Young Pioneer camps and is currently the main Children's Center in Russia.Orlyonok's name is taken from the title of a popular Young Pioneer song "Orlyonok" about a 16-year old Red Army soldier about to be executed by enemies.-History:The Orylonok camp was...
, one of the major Pioneer camps, and the Orlyonok participants of that year spread ideas about Collective Creative Deeds to many other regions of the country creating numerous school and college-based pedagogical clubs and communes. In one year, the popularity grew so massive that in the summer of 1963 the Communard movement culminated in a first, all-Soviet Young Communard convention in Orlyonok. In part, the popularity of the Communard movement was due to initial support from Komsomolskaya Pravda
Komsomolskaya Pravda
Komsomolskaya Pravda is a daily Russian tabloid newspaper, founded on March 13th, 1925. It is published by "Izdatelsky Dom Komsomolskaya Pravda" .- History :...
, the official newspaper of Communist Union of Youth
Komsomol
The Communist Union of Youth , usually known as Komsomol , was the youth division of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union. The Komsomol in its earliest form was established in urban centers in 1918. During the early years, it was a Russian organization, known as the Russian Communist Union of...
, especially from Simon Soloveychik
Simon Soloveychik
Simon L'vovich Soloveychik was a Russian publicist, educator and philosopher.- Brief biography :After graduating Moscow State University in 1953 he worked as a boys and girls scouts leader, a secondary school teacher, and a correspondent of Pioneer magazine.In 1960 he worked for the newspaper...
, who worked in the 1960s in the newspaper and was assigned to display the Communard movement. As political climate changed when Nikita Khrushchev
Nikita Khrushchev
Nikita Sergeyevich Khrushchev led the Soviet Union during part of the Cold War. He served as First Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union from 1953 to 1964, and as Chairman of the Council of Ministers, or Premier, from 1958 to 1964...
was replaced by Leonid Brezhnev
Leonid Brezhnev
Leonid Ilyich Brezhnev – 10 November 1982) was the General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union , presiding over the country from 1964 until his death in 1982. His eighteen-year term as General Secretary was second only to that of Joseph Stalin in...
in 1964, the Communard movement as an individial trend could not be supported by Komsomol
Komsomol
The Communist Union of Youth , usually known as Komsomol , was the youth division of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union. The Komsomol in its earliest form was established in urban centers in 1918. During the early years, it was a Russian organization, known as the Russian Communist Union of...
any longer. In 1965-1966, many communes were integrated into Pioneer and Komsomol local organizations and could not act independent of the directions from Communist party
Communist Party of the Soviet Union
The Communist Party of the Soviet Union was the only legal, ruling political party in the Soviet Union and one of the largest communist organizations in the world...
. While opinions of Russian pedagogues on the implementation of the Communard clubs in then Soviet education system vary over a broad range, most scholars agree on the positive effect of the ideas behind the movement on the development of free thinking, creativity and social adaptability in Soviet teenagers.
The Ivanov's Collective Creative Deeds methodology was not only the foundation for the youth Communard movement. Ivanov went on to develop his ideas into "pedagogy of cooperative care" which he described in several comprehensive publications. In 1960-1970, Ivanov has performed most of the practical work in collaboration with his own group of students in Makarenko Commune, a union of college students in Herzen University
Herzen University
The State Russian Herzen Pedagogical University is one of the largest universities in Russia. Located in Saint Petersburg, it operates 20 faculties and more than 100 departments. Embroidered in its structure are the Institute of Pre-University Courses, the Institute of Continuous Professional...
. One of the Ivanov's known books - "Encyclopedia of Collective Creative Deeds" is still popular among the pedagogical communities of Russia. It has promoted examples for hundreds of school teachers on how to conduct education through creative activities such as role playing, science-fiction projects, quiz tournaments, relay races, pen pal correspondence and many other activities which involved collaborative and interactive elements for participants.
In 1998 in Saint-Petersburg a book by his wife Lubov Ivanova "Future in the present – life and work of Igor Petrovich Ivanov" was published, timed to All-Russian congress of the followers of Igor Ivanov "Education and school at the turn of the 21st century".
External links
- The website "Kommunarstvo" provides some historical perspectives on the Communard movement as well as some information on the Collective Creative Deeds methodology and its practice in today's Russia. -
- Re-edition of Encyclopedia of Collective Creative Deeds by former Ivanov's colleague Ludmila Borisova. -