PEDAGOGICAL NEWS OF JOSEPH DE CALASANS (1557-1648) HOW THE SOCIAL REFORM OF THE EARLY MODERN AGE

Abstract

The article outlines the pedagogical achievements of Joseph de Calasanz – the founder of the first, in Europe, free school for children from the poorest layers of the population. It was discovered that it became the beginning and determined the main goal of the activity of the Roman Catholic monastic order of Piarists. It was found that the emergence of an extensive network of Piarists schools became a kind of reaction to those socio-political challenges, that were inherent Western Europe during the epoch of Counter-Reformation, in particular the need of renewal of the Roman Catholic Church, strengthening its position by gaining confidence in existing and potential adepts, and also creating the morality of its clergy and laymen. The pedagogical activity of Joseph de Calasanz became an attempt to make a peculiar social reform, intended not only to overcome the elementary ignorance of the masses, but also to give them an opportunity to take care of a decent life. Joseph de Calasanz developed and implemented in life his own educational concept, according to which the purpose of a true teacher was not only in mental, but also in moral development of pupils, what could be achieved only with providing the respectful attitude towards them. A special role in implementation of this educational concept was assigned to the teacher, who must love children endlessly , honor their dignity, limit punishment, and be a good example for them. It was summarized, that pedagogical innovations of Joseph de Calasanz deserve a comprehensive and detailed study, popularization, since they can serve as a source for inspiration and encourage the appropriate use today. It is, in particular, about the practice of individual approach to each student, fostering not only his knowledge and educational skills, but also proper moral development. Educational system, proposed by Roman Catholic monks of the monastic order of Piarists 400 years ago and practiced by them, is not anachronistic, because the postulates laid in its foundation have not lost their relevance to this day. On authors' belief, their realization in modern Ukrainian educational space would help optimize it, because it would make it possible to bring up a pupil as a decent, self-sufficient, intellectual, patriotic personality.