THE EMERGENCE AND DEVELOPMENT OF PRIMARY EDUCATION PEDAGOGY

Abstract

The article examines in detail the emergence and development of primary education pedagogy within a historical-pedagogical context. It is noted that at the initial stage primary education pedagogy was formed within philosophical thought and was based on general ideas related to the upbringing and development of the child. From the 17th century pedagogy took shape as an independent science and primary education pedagogy began a systematic path of development as a separate scientific direction. The article explores the development of this field in stages from ancient times to the modern period. While in ancient and medieval times education mainly had a philosophical and religious character, in the Renaissance and the modern era under the influence of humanistic ideas the natural development of the child and individual characteristics came to the forefront. During the period of classical pedagogy the scientific foundations of instruction and upbringing were further strengthened. In particular the ideas of prominent educators such as John Amos Comenius, John Locke, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Johann Heinrich Pestalozzi and Konstantin Dmitrievich Ushinsky played an important role in the formation of the theoretical and methodological foundations of primary education. In the 20th century as a result of the activities of John Dewey, Maria Montessori and other scholars student- centered developmental and practice-oriented instructional approaches became widespread. The study also broadly highlights the historical stages of development in the preparation of primary school teachers. It is shown that although in the initial periods the teaching profession did not require special preparation later with the establishment of pedagogical courses seminaries and higher educational institutions this field became professionalized. In Azerbaijan the important role of the Gori Teachers Seminary as well as short- term pedagogical courses organized during the period of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic in the formation of teacher training is emphasized. These courses made a significant contribution to eliminating the shortage of teachers and to the development of the national education system. In conclusion it is emphasized that primary education pedagogy has passed a long path of historical development and has transformed from philosophical ideas into an independent pedagogical field based on scientific foundations and constantly improving. In the modern period this field forms the basis of a humanistic and development-oriented education model that ensures the comprehensive development of the student.