Educational Aspects of the Activities of Children’s Organizations in Bulgaria (1944-1947)

Abstract

This publication is a research project funded by Sofia University’s State Budget for scientific researches in 2019. The theme of the project is “The education in children’s and youth organizations in Bulgaria (1944-1990) in sources.” The aim of this paper is to present the educational aspects in the activities of children’s and youth organizations in Bulgaria between 1944 and 1947. On September the 9th, 1944 in the political governance in Bulgaria a huge change occurred. The period 1944-1947, during which monarchy was replaced with democratic governance, is called “People’s democracy”. The same period is also connected with a new beginning in organizing children and youth for educational purposes, out of school system, in non-formal organizations. In the end of 1944year Unified children’s youth organization “Septmvrijche” was created. Unified children’s youth organization “Septmvrijche” was a single, national, anti-fascist, cultural and educational organization, that had to be the first assistant to the school. During these first years the main aims were targeted for clearing the structure, functions and tasks, and strengthening the organization. The specific rules and symbols were accepted by the organization, which included oath, cravat “septemvrijka”, special flag and badge. The educational purposes, which the organization pursued, in some extend were equal with those of the formal school, but educational forms and methods, were completely different. The main idea was, that work with children in organization should be absolutely different from school classes. The period is characterized with rapid growth of members (children and youth between 7 and 14 years old) and laying the groundwork for a significant educational work. In the structures of the organization the trainers implemented ideological and political, international, patriotic, intellectual, physical and work training. Forms, methods and tools for training used by organization were different from those used by school and endured significant growth in their diversity, according to the educational aim. Considered diversity may be used as source and base for useful practices for contemporary educators. Some of the used forms are: training groups to help trailing students, meetings, conversations, organized visits, amusements, educational and training courses, excursions, work activities, hiking, expeditions, camps, summer playgrounds and many other different forms. These practices may be applied both in the formal educational system and in the non-formal education structures today.The methods, forms and tools used by “Septemvrijtche” are also important for the history of pedagogy, as a science directly linked with historical aspects of education. The topic is significant and because of the fact, that the period 1944-1947, and especially the educational aspects of children’s and youth structures, haven’t been researched in the required extend so far, from the contemporary point of view.