Methodical Principles of Pupils’ Physical Education in Kostiantyn Ushynskyi Pedagogical Heritage

Abstract

Introduction. The pedagogical principles of Physical Education in the scientific heritage of the prominent Ukrainian teacher Kostiantyn Ushynskyi have been described. The purpose of the study is to analyze the methodological foundations of pupils’ PE through the prism of consideration of pedagogical means and forms in the humanistic and health-saving of K. Ushynskyi`s concept. Research methods such as the study of literary sources, theoretical analysis and synthesis of the obtained data were used in the paper. Research Results. On the basis of the historical and literary sources, it was found that K. Ushynskyi (1824–1870) critically compared the educational realities of foreign countries and the current state of the national school and made significant theoretical generalizations about such actual methodical issues on physical education as: the place of gymnastics and gymnastic games in the content of educational subjects; formation of favorable psycho- emotional climate and other. Conclusions. The research, carried out on the basis of the historical and pedagogical analysis of K. Ushynskyi’s scientific papers, made it possible to isolate and fix the means of pupils’ physical education in the creative heritage of an outstanding teacher: gymnastics, game, work, pupils’ acquaintance with theoretical information on anatomy, physiology and hygiene from the «Children’s World» and «Native Word» textbooks. The most effective organizational forms of pupils’ physical education in K. Ushynskyi’s scientific work are defined: gymnastics lessons, physical training minutes, physical training pauses, and rational organization of pupils’ rest during breaks, including moving games and walks outdoors. The general pedagogical provisions of K. Ushynskyi significantly influenced the PE theory of t Russia in the second half of the 19^th century. As a Ukrainian educator, Kostiantyn Ushynskyi can undoubtedly be considered as the founder of the national pedagogical Theory of Physical Education.