200th anniversary of the birth of K.D. Ushinsky

Ushinsky's father was

• a veteran of the War of 1812

• a priest who worked with orphans

• a village teacher

• a doctor

Ushinsky went to university in Moscow and studied there

• pedagogy

• psychology

• right

• philology

Answer explanation

After graduating from the Novgorod-Severskaya Gymnasium, Ushinsky entered the Faculty of Law at Moscow University, from which he graduated with flying colours in 1844

Ushinsky was forced to leave his post as a teacher at the Yaroslavl Law Lyceum because

• he was transferred to a better place in St Petersburg

• he was incompetent

• his approach was too democratic

• because of his father's death

Answer explanation

Ushinsky's ideas seemed radical, overly democratic. In 1850 he was forced to leave the Lyceum.

After that he went to Peterburg. What did he do there?

• wrote books and lived off the income from the estate

• served in the army

• taught at a high school

• worked in a low-level position and published articles in magazines

Answer explanation

After a year and a half of unsuccessful attempts to get a teaching job in Yaroslavl, Ushinsky moved to St Petersburg, where he got a fairly small official position. He began to cooperate in the magazines "Contemporary" (1852-1854) and "Library for Reading" (1854-1855).

In 1859, Ushinsky was invited to serve as class inspector at the Smolny Institute for Noble Maidens, where he managed to make significant progressive changes. What kind of changes?

• he introduced the practice of teaching subjects in Russian

• introduced physical education classes into the timetable

• Eliminate the previous division of students into "noble" and "non-noble"

• Introduced new subjects that girls had previously not been allowed to study

• removed homework and corporal punishment

One of Ushinsky's main achievements is considered to be

• Writing a number of papers on learning theory

• The creation of a circle of like-minded, talented pupils who became the nucleus of the young Russian pedagogy of the 1860s

• reforms to the Institute for Noble Maidens

The Russian language anthology compiled by Ushinsky was called

• native word

• children's world

• on the usefulness of educational literature

• nurturing

Answer explanation

At that time Ushinsky also compiled a textbook on the Russian language "Children's World" (1861) in two parts for teaching in the lower grades, containing much material on natural history. Publication of 'Children's world' brought Konstantin Dmitrievich national fame. The first circulation - 3 600 copies - was quickly spread through educational institutions of Russia. Two new editions were needed.

After a conflict with the head of the institute, Ushinsky travelled to Europe, where he

• Studied advanced pedagogical technologies in Switzerland and Germany

• studied painting and sculpture in Italy

• was being treated for an illness caused by severe stress

• wrote his most important works on pedagogy

Answer explanation

After a conflict with the head of the institute, Ushinsky was forced to resign. Empress Maria Alexandrovna took the teacher under her protection. Ushinsky was assigned to Section IV of His Majesty's own Chancellery. To calm his nerves, at the suggestion of the Empress, Konstantin Dmitrievich went on a European trip. During this time, Ushinsky visited Switzerland, Germany, France, Belgium and Italy, where he visited and studied the educational institutions - women's schools, kindergartens, orphanages and schools, especially in Germany and Switzerland, considered the most advanced in terms of innovations in pedagogy. He summarised his notes, observations and letters from this period in an article entitled 'A Pedagogical Journey through Switzerland'.

How many editions did Ushinsky's work on the teaching of the Russian language, The Native Word, survive until 1917?

• 73

• 13

• 80

• 146

Ushinsky died very early, at the age of 47. In spite of this, he managed to fulfil his biggest dream, which he wrote down in his diary as a child. What was that dream?

• "to become a famous scientist and public figure".

• "to do everything possible to ensure that children in schools never suffer again".

• "To do as much good as possible for my homeland is the only goal of my life, and to this I must direct all my abilities.

• "to take a trip around Europe".