Education and Art in Soviet Russia/Document 12
A more important experiment still than that described in Document 11, is that shown in Document 12, which is an account of the aims of the new Institute for Child Study.
DOCUMENT No. 12
The Institute for Child Study
Beginning September 1, 1918, 3-semester courses have been announced at the Institute for Child Study on preliminary education which have for their object the training of instructors for pre-scholastic education. Parallel to these courses there have also been functioning 3 months' courses for training instructors of Kindergarten, children-homes, playgrounds and children settlements.
The Institute itself—an institution for the first time functioning in Russia, has been established owing to the necessity of a thorough-going study of all questions connected with pre-scholastic bringing up and of creating a staff of trained instructors for the solution of urgent problems of today regarding state, social, universal and free education for children of pre-scholastic age. With these objects in view, as well as for purposes of wide propaganda of ideas of pre-scholastic education and creation of affiliated branches in provinces, the Institute has been divided into the following departments: 1) science, 2) instruction, 3) information, 4) publications.
To the Department of Science have been attached the following auxiliary institutions: 1) medical and psychological laboratory, 2) experimental infant home, 3) experimental Kindergarten. Scientific investigations are recorded in a special magazine on pre-scholastic education, published at the Institute.
The Department of Instruction includes: 1) 3-semesters' and 3 months' courses for training instructors and directors of children’s institutions of pre-scholastic age, 2) a training school for directresses of children's homes, 3) experimental Kindergarten, and 4) experimental children's homes.
The Information Department has a museum and a library on all questions of pedagogy, and a lecture bureau.
The Publishing Department publishes a special magazine, publishes and distributes scientific and popular treatises on pre-scholastic education, and has its own shop where furniture, toys and school appliances are manufactured.