PEDAGOGICAL EDUCATION AS A SOCIO-CULTURAL PHENOMENON: STRUCTURE, FUNCTIONS AND MISSION IN THE SOCIETY

The article proves the necessity of going beyond the frames of the traditional approach to pedagogical education and its consideration as a part of professional education only. The study of the notions, included as a compound of the concept, has shown that most of the scientists of the present and of the past regard education as a significant factor of socio-cultural development. This fact positions pedagogical education in a new perspective in relation to socio-cultural processes. In the author's interpretation, pedagogical education stands out as a socio-cultural phenomenon since it represents an outcome of historical development of the society and culture, a mechanism of maintenance and transmission of socio-cultural pedagogical experience with the purpose of adjustment of moral grounds (of the society, the person) to the socio-cultural alterations through the professional pedagogical community, and the process of pedagogue's formation through a special system of continuing professional pedagogical education. This definition, aside from the traditional one, determines broad socio-cultural functions of pedagogical education: cultural (adaptation, revision and transmission of culture in general and of pedagogical culture, in particular); socio-historical (maintenance and development of the national system of education and learning); identificational (social and professional selection, adequate for the socio-political structure of the society); enlightening (development, scientifically reasoned modernization and transmission of contemporary principles of education and training, adequate for the Russian socio-cultural space through pedagogical community). The potential for the influence of pedagogical education on the development of the socio-cultural space of a country and a region poses a new mission onto pedagogical education, which would consist in maintenance, development and modernisation of the national education system for the purpose of development and reinforcement of the human capital. In the conclusion of the article an inference has been made that the whole history of pedagogical education formation and development demonstrates the close connection of this segment of education with socio-cultural processes. Moreover, it was pedagogical education that in certain periods became a significant factor of social and cultural development. It proves the validity and appropriateness of the declared functions and missions of pedagogical education. The proposed approach will enable pedagogical education not only to survive as an independent structure but also to constantly develop itself, while modernising the society.

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