September 27 is Nursery and Primary School Workers’ Day. For teachers, graduates and students of the Faculty of Psychological, Pedagogical, and Special Needs Education and the Department of Preschool and Primary Education, Balashov Institute, SSU, the holiday is of particular importance. It is here that people are trained who associate their lives with a difficult and responsible mission – to work with children at their very first stage in social and psychological development.
Lyubov Gorina, Associate Professor of the Department of Education Methodology, tells about the special status of the profession in society and the training of future preschool workers.
– Lyubov Vyacheslavovna, why is the profession of a preschool education worker so important? How can we explain the high authority of educators in society?
– The educator is called upon to create optimal pedagogical conditions for the realization of the potential of a young child, for his versatile and harmonious development. For a child, a kindergarten teacher is the first person after parents and close relatives, who has a huge impact on his emotional well–being, on all spheres of life. In addition to educators, specialists work with the child in kindergarten: music directors, physical education instructors, additional education teachers of various fields, educational psychologists, social educators, speech pathologists and speech therapists. It is impossible to take place in this profession without being an enthusiastic and creative person, not loving children, not knowing how to play. The influence of preschool teachers on the personal and mental development of a child is difficult to overestimate. A good educator is someone who treats children warmly and respectfully, supports the first manifestations of independence, initiative, stimulates the development of new ways and types of activities, forms the main life values. This is a difficult and extremely important profession. Numerous studies show that the experience gained in preschool childhood has a huge impact not only on academic achievements, but also on the success of a person as a whole. This explains the high authority of educators and all employees of preschool education in society.
– How does Saratov University participate in the training of preschool education workers?
– For more than 25 years we have been training educators and heads of preschool educational organizations. Our department trains educators not only in the framework of the bachelor's degree in Preschool Education, but also in the master's degree in Management of Preschool Education. It is unlikely that in the Saratov region you can find a kindergarten in which at least one of our graduates would not work. The history of professional training of teachers of preschool education dates back to the Saratov Order of the Badge of Honor State Pedagogical Institute named after K.A. Fedin, which later became a structural unit of the university and became part of the SSU. At that time, most educators and even many kindergarten leaders did not have higher education. In the 90s of the last century, significant changes began and continue to this day in the domestic system of preschool education. The main principles of preschool education are to support the specificity and diversity of childhood; to preserve the uniqueness and self-worth of childhood as an important stage in the overall human development; the personality-developing and humanistic nature of the interaction between adults and children; respect for the personality of the child as a mandatory requirement for all adult participants in educational activities; the implementation of educational activities in forms that take into account the age of children. Our task was not only to provide graduates of schools, pedagogical colleges and colleges with high-quality higher pedagogical education, but also to form their professional position, personal and professional readiness to provide pedagogical support to the child and his family.
– What is the peculiarity of university training for future preschool education workers?
– First of all, it is a close relationship of a high level of scientific-theoretical and scientific-methodological training with the practice-oriented nature of training. Ensuring the quality of training for future teachers of preschool education involves direct interaction with employers, many of whom, by the way, are graduates of our faculty. In the process of such interaction, students are given a unique opportunity to work closely with experienced mentor teachers, practice in various preschool educational organizations implementing variable educational technologies; immerse themselves in the educational environment of a kindergarten; the opportunity to implement their projects, complete term papers and final qualifying works on topical topics offered by employers - heads of preschool educational organizations. Classes at the university are conducted with extensive use of active teaching methods and interactive technologies. We pay a lot of attention to the volunteer and project activities of our students. Within the framework of many academic disciplines, practical training is expected, which we also conduct on the basis of preschool educational organizations in close cooperation with the best teachers. The university-based vocational training system has a two-level character. There is an opportunity to continue studying for a master's degree and develop professional competencies in the field of management of a preschool educational organization.
– How did you get into this profession?
– I graduated from the Music and Pedagogical Faculty of the K.A.Fedin State Pedagogical University and worked as a music teacher at school for about 10 years. Then I returned to the pedagogical institute, defended my PhD thesis in pedagogy. At the same time, I tried my hand at working with preschoolers: I worked as a music director, a teacher of additional education (implemented an author's program of poly-artistic development on the basis of a kindergarten), led an experimental playground on the basis of a kindergarten to introduce the culture and traditions of the peoples of the Volga region. In order to consolidate her professional competencies in this field, already being a candidate of sciences, she graduated from the master's degree in the profile "Management of preschool education". I am keenly interested in the field of scientific and practical activities related to the problems of development, upbringing and education of children of early and preschool age, with the management of preschool educational organizations. There are a lot of opportunities for self-realization and creative growth.
– Is there a difference between working in kindergarten and elementary school?
– Of course, the content of the pedagogical activity of the primary school teacher and the educator differs, and in general the schedule, regime, and way of life of the school and kindergarten. But I would talk more not about the difference, but about the proximity of these professions. Patience, calmness, healthy self–esteem, a wealth of emotional experiences, initiative, a sense of humor, broad horizons and a variety of interests - this is an incomplete list of those qualities that both a primary school teacher and a teacher of a preschool educational organization should possess. It is not for nothing that some of our students choose to study in these two training profiles. This helps them build a career in the field of education, be competitive and promote professional growth.
– What activities in the field of preschool education are carried out by the faculty?
– Every year we invite teachers of preschool education to participate in the International Forum "Humanization of the educational space". As part of the event, round tables, discussions, seminars, and master classes are held at kindergartens, where we, together with scientists, methodologists, leaders and teachers of preschool education, our students and graduates, discuss topical issues of preschool pedagogy and preschool education. The festival of educational organizations "Heirs of Traditions" is a good example of productive interaction between university students and kindergarten teachers. There are a lot of events in our lives. In a short conversation, it is difficult to list all aspects of our life at the faculty. Our students and teachers of the Department of Educational Methodology take an active part in all initiatives of the university.
– Why do high school students decide to connect their lives with preschool education?
– I always ask freshmen about it. The first thing they tell me is: "I love children." For some, younger siblings serve as motivation. Our students like to take care of them, play with them and study with them. Very often, this is an example of relatives who work in the education system. We try to maintain such a positive attitude towards the profession and children in our students.
The SSU Teaching Class also plays an important role in choosing this training profile. Thanks to this initiative, many school graduates choose our faculty. Motivated applicants come to study at the university!
Congratulations to all teachers in the field of preschool education on their professional holiday! I wish you to remain caring, creative, loving children and your profession!
The Faculty of Psychological, Pedagogical, and Special Needs Education, SSU, implements bachelor's degree programs "Pedagogical Education" (Preschool education) and master's degree programs "Pedagogical Education" (Management of preschool education, management of educational organizations).
Text by Daniil Pronin,
photos by Dmitrii Kovshov and from the interviewees’ archive,
translated by Lyudmila Yefremova
