p Man should hold his duty to his country as something sacred. It is up to us fathers and mothers, and teachers to see that every young citizen holds that duty dear, just as an honest man holds dear his good name and the reputation of his family. (17)

p One of the most important conditions for avoiding moral lapses during the adolescent period is to ensure that pupils from an early age take to heart the present and future destiny of their Homeland. Patriotic ideas, emotions, duties and responsibilities to one’s country form the foundation of human dignity. (12, 197)

p A world outlook is not merely a set of views on the world ... but also the subjective state of the individual which finds expression in his thoughts, emotions, will and activity. The individual’s world outlook combines his consciousness, ideas, convictions and activity. (11, 221)

p Mankind even in the distant past arrived at the realisation that man possesses not only physical strength but also strength of mind— loyalty to his convictions, confidence in his right, unswerving resolution in face of difficulties, fearlessness. The concepts—strength of mind, courage and fortitude evolved in the course of history, gradually taking shape over the years. (6, 9)

p The fact that thousands of heroes and brave fighters have laid down their lives for the sake of mankind’s bright future long before that future became reality provides striking demonstration of the enormous transforming power of progressive ideas. Inspired by these ideas men became stronger, felt themselves to be invincible and went out to meet their death without considering it defeat.

p However, the summit of social and moral progress was provided by communist ideas. They added to men’s most noble quests and endeavours the lustre of scientific truth. Inspired by these ideas thousands of brave men felt themselves to be the instruments of the thoughts and hopes of the whole working people, and this filled them with still greater fervour. The source of the enthusiasm found in men and women inspired by communist ideas was for the first time in human history the active support of the popular masses.... In struggle, in privation, and in self-sacrifice thousands of brave men, champions of these noble ideals, found profound personal 289 happiness because they were aware that their goals can be attained and their dreams will come true. (6, 9)

p Our very youngest pupils we introduce to a wide range of historical events; we read them stories of mankind’s past history, of the struggle against social evils of yesterday and today. Special talks and lectures are devoted to the struggle by progressive social forces against the forces of reaction. One such series of lectures is entitled “Great Humanists—Champions of Mankind’s Happiness" and it is designed for a period of five or six years. Special stress is laid on the emergence of communist ideas long before the advent of Marxism. Lectures and talks on the following subjects also provide a source of most useful instruction: “Forerunners of Scientific Communism”, “Popular Uprisings from Ancient Times to the Twentieth Century”, “The First Communists”, “Lives Laid Down for the Ideals of Freedom”. (14, 9)

p Children are always hearing the word Communist. I went out of my way to ensure that in their minds this word and concept should be associated with the most vivid and inspiring figures of those men and women who fought to liberate our people from exploitation, for the construction of socialism, for the victory over fascism, and for the communist transformation of society. In my eyes, our aim as teachers should be to ensure that our children, heirs to the communist ideals of their fathers and 290 grandfathers should take pride in their exploits, be true masters of their own country and fight for the building and consolidation of communism.

p To achieve this educational goal I concentrated my efforts above all on talks about well-known Communists. This series of discussions was known by the heading “Men with Ardent Hearts”. I would tell the children about outstanding Communists of our country—Ivan Babushkin, Sergei Lazo, Yakov Sverdlov, Grigory Kotovsky, Felix Dzerzhinsky, Ter- Petrosyan (Kamo). The memorable lives and heroic struggle of these Communists who opposed tsarism and fought for the socialist revolution convinced the children that supreme happiness for the Communist consists in loyal service to his people, and the fight for the people’s happiness.

p From the very early days of our “School of Joy" till our pupils finally left school and embarked on their adult working lives or further studies, I read them extracts from Lenin’s life and his works. We started out with vivid stories of Lenin’s childhood and school days. With each passing month these readings devoted to Lenin embraced an ever wider range of topics dealing with history, communist ideology, and our Party’s fight for the people’s better future. The children learnt that the Communist Party represents the flower of our people, its finest sons and daughters. (10, 198)

p A child’s moral make-up, his attitude to social needs and to work devoted to his 291 country’s welfare depends on the way he is taught, from an early age, to regard the heroic exploits of his forefathers. I was able to make my young pupils’ hearts beat quicker at the thought that here on this hillock where we were working heroes had shed their blood. Emotions strengthen the conviction that work on one’s native soil for the good of the Homeland is a great happiness for the sake of which men were prepared to engage in life-and-death battles. In the innermost depths of a child’s heart the voice of conscience speaks: you are walking beneath the bright sun, and are able to look up at the blue sky only because here beneath these poplars and birch trees, beneath these oaks and apple trees lie the bodies of those who preserved light and life for you. (10, 232)

p It can never be stressed too often that children’s emotional responses to the heroic past of their country, to the exploits of those heroes who gave their lives for our happiness do not weigh heavy on child’s minds, or breed pessimistic thoughts. On the contrary, children’s emotions in this situation are clearly marked with an optimistic attitude to the world around them and with radiant faith in the triumph of life. (9, 83)

p The history of mankind’s progress towards the summit of happiness communism—is alight with fire, as if made of red hot iron. Each line of this history shines out with the 292 light of all-consuming ardour for boys and girls. Educating each new generation of impassioned champions of communism means ensuring that young citizens feel their hearts beat as one with the hearts of such figures as Sergei Lazo, Felix Dzerzhinsky, Nikolai Gastello, Dmitry Karbyshev and Alexander Matrosov and that these inspiring pages of history should set fire to young hearts, inspiring them to emulate heroic exploits and teaching them how to live their lives. (12, 54)

p For a child there should be no such thing as unthinking placid happiness. The more significant the material and intellectual benefits provided by the elder generation, the more important it is that they should be inspired by the example of those men and women who laid down their lives for their compatriots. I repeat, this is particularly important for young children at the age when their first conceptions of good and evil, of justice and injustice, of honour and dishonour are all taking shape. (9, 82)

p The fundamental principle behind moral education, indispensable for young people’s moral maturity is their ideal of their Homeland; moral uprightness and noble principles in young people stem from their vision of the world in terms of their duty to their country. Dearer than all else they hold the honour, glory, might and independence of their country. (12, 24)

Many years’ experience of teaching in school have led me to believe that the impact and effectiveness of patriotic education depend upon the degree to which the individual is aware of the concept of the Homeland, and the clarity with which he perceives the world and himself within that world through patriotic eyes. To educate a true patriot ready to lay down his life for the independence of his Soviet Homeland means filling the day-to-day life of young people with noble sentiments that will colour all the discoveries and actions of pupils in this age group. (12, 210)