THE RELEVANCE OF Y.F. CHEPIHA’S IDEAS WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF THE NEW UKRAINIAN PRIMARY SCHOOL

Abstract

In the article, the issue of actualization of cultural and educational heritage of the prominent Ukrainian scholar and educator, psychologist and public figure of the early 20th century Yakov Feofanovych Chepiha (1875-1938) in the contemporary education of Ukraine is addressed; the scientist’s thoughts concerning training and education of children in primary school, which are deemed to be significant and relevant at the current stage of development of primary education in Ukraine are ascertained, notably the issues of national education of a learner (a child), the unique role of a native language in harmonious-and-spiritual development and formation of a personality, and the basic principles of the national school, an image of an ideal teacher, and methodological aspects of teaching children reading using the method of whole words, etc. It is established that the scholar attached great importance to personality development as well as to the activities of a teacher himself and made demands on him. A teacher was expected to be creative, energetic, proactive, and enhance inclinations of talented and gifted children. The scientist encouraged pedagogues to abandon obsolete and inefficient methods of the educational system. In the educational field, this message remains relevant thus far in the context of the New Ukrainian School Exploratory work of the scholar is able to enrich the scientific foundations of teaching and and education of children in primary school and, meanwhile, induce a discussion, new scientific study and research.