Dimitri Uznadze’s Ideas Regarding the Civic Education for Pupils

Abstract

The paper is dedicated to analyzing the pedagogical legacy of the eminent Georgian psychologist and educator, Dimitri Uznadze, in the context of civic education for pupils. Although Dimitri Uznadze is primarily known as the founder of the “Theory of Set”, his role as a school reformer and pedagogical thinker has been less studied. The aim of the research is to highlight Uznadze’s views and establish their connection with the needs of contemporary civil society. The paper discusses his opinion, according to which the main task of a democratic state is the education of the citizen. Dimitri Uznadze identifies two main components of civic education: 1) providing knowledge (regarding legal and social issues) and 2) civic training of character and willpower. Special emphasis is placed on the innovation he proposed – the introduction of pupil self-government. In his view, the school should be a “small state”, where pupils learn the principles of democratic coexistence through practical activities. In conclusion, the paper reveals that Uznadze’s ideas on civic education (the formation of an active, creative citizen who shares public interests) retain significant relevance in light of the challenges facing the contemporary Georgian school.