«Domostroy» and «General Resolution on Upbringing of Young People of Both Sexes»: comparative historicalanalysis experience

In the reign of Catherine II (1762-1796) in Russia a serious revaluation of the role of upbringing as a root of all evil and good took place. It was connected with the spreading of western pedagogical ideas in the Russian society, formulated by J. Locke at the end of the 17 century (Some Thoughts Concerning Education, 1693). Catherine II projected the formation of a state public educational system, which then did not exist in Russia. This system united the functions of upbringing and teaching, traditionally carried out by the Russian family. I.I. Betskoy (1704-1795) - an outstanding statesman - became the main figure in the realisation of this project in 1763. The empress ratified General resolution on upbringing of young people of both sexes projected by I.I. Betskoy in 1764. The principal idea of this resolution was to create a new breed of people in boarding schools fully isolated from the negative influence of the family and society. The school-leavers had to form an estate of skilled workmen, artists, scientists and become free people. Meanwhile, the traditional ideas of values dominated in the Russian society in the second half of the 18 century, a family being the main value. Domostroy (The Household Book) was the collection of Russian family traditions as a written code of domestic rules and precepts for a Christian. The 18 century editions of the texts proved that it was an authoritative guidance for a long time. The comparative historical analysis of the Domostroy and General resolution on upbringing of young people of both sexes demonstrates that the transformation of the domestic pedagogical model into the state one changed fundamentally the didactic direction of upbringing of young generation during the reign of Catherine II. The new pedagogical paradigm borrowed many recommendations of the Russian Middle Ages. Upbringing in the fear of God, hard-working, compassion, the habit of tidiness and polite behaviour, household instruction, attention to the age and individual abilities of children, precept by means of behaviour patterns and priority of upbringing were domostroy traditions. They found realisation in the idea of creation of a new breed of people in the second half of the 18 century.

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