Children daily life of Tomsk in the reflection of periodicals (1961-1964)

The article discusses concept about children daily life in Tomsk in the reflection of periodicals (1961-1964). There are several reasons for addressing this problem. In the USSR, children were always not only in the care of the state, but also a part of the political discourse about ‘the happy childhood’ and ‘the man of the future’ who was expected to live under communism. The purpose of this article is to consider what informational reasons, problems, topics were the basis of publications about children’s daily life in Tomsk. Sources include regional papers “Krasnoye Znamya” and “Molodoy Leninets” that regularly covered this theme. The obtained data were divided into thematic categories: “school and teaching and learning process”, “pioneers and activities of the pioneer organization”, “health, care, safety”, “urban children’s space”, “children’s leisure”, “children’s sports”, “state and children”, “kindergarten”, “extended education”. School and the activities of the pioneer organization were the main topics of publications about children. The main activities of the pioneers were greening the city, distributing literature, collecting scrap metal and waste paper. Periodicals also discussed forms and methods of the educational process: topics and problems discussed in the lessons, achievements. Particular attention was paid to the labor education of schooler. Children in Tomsk were sent to factories to receive industrial worker job. Also the most popular were publications (34 messages) telling about the relationship between the state and children. It was reported to support the universality and accessibility of children’s education, the construction of new schools, kindergartens, as well as material and technical equipment for schools. The next topic is urban children’s spaces. Two issues were discussed. The first one is the improvement of playgrounds. The second is the organization of the employment of children in the courtyards. The reports on children’s sports primarily concerned the develo pment of accessibility to sports facilities and city children’s competitions in various sports. Another topic for publications in the local press was children’s leisure. Announcements of events for children, reviews of already passed children’s performances were published, the activities of city children’s libraries were widely covered as well. The least attention from the press was paid to additional education and kindergarten: 14 and 9 reports. The author concludes that the main attention of the press is paid to the labor, cultural and educational component of children’s life. In addition, an ideal image of a Soviet child and his daily life is being created - this is a comprehensively developed person, a young Soviet citizen, a diligent schooler, engaged in extracurricular activities, under the constant supervision of the state.

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