From the History of Implementation of the Discipline «the History of Ukraine» in Universities of the Ussr in the 1930s: Methodological Aspect

The article examines the evolution of Soviet state policy in the field of higher historical education in the Ukrainian SSR in the 1930s on the basis of a previously unpublished archival document introduced into scientific circulation for the first time. On the basis of archival and published sources, the political, social and methodological conditions for the introduction of the discipline “History of Ukraine” are presented in the higher school of the Ukrainian SSR. The influence of the dynamics of the political development of the state on the theory and practice of studying the history of Ukraine is demonstrated. The ideological, political and methodological reasons that led to the introduction of the history of Ukraine as a special course are analyzed. The historical subjects of the discipline «The History of Ukraine” were primarily designed to illustrate the political, social and economic phenomena of the past for the benefit of the current modern events of the young socialist state. The main attention is paid to the consideration and analysis of the methodical aspect of the implemented discipline. The process of restoration of traditional forms and methods of teaching the historical discipline in universities was followed, which was accompanied by an increase in the role of the teacher in the educational process. The measures of the party-state leadership aimed at introducing the discipline «The History of Ukraine” in higher historical education are traced. It is noted that as a result of the long-term work of a large team of scientists, a curriculum was developed, which became a historical narrative in which the official position of the authorities on the main issues of national history was recorded, and at the same time an official reference point for scientists, teachers, educators, political workers, cultural figures. The documentary supplement contains the program on the history of Ukraine for the first year of teachers’ institutes for the summer session of 1938, the level of representativeness and archeographic elaboration of which is quite high, which in total significantly increases the scientific level of the factual basis of the conducted research.