Axiological Characteristics of Teacher’s Activity in the Pedagogical Works of Vasyl Sukhomlynskyi (1918–1970)

The article examines the value orientations of the teacher’s activity in the works of the Ukrainian educator Vasyl Sukhomlynskyi (1918–1970). His pedagogical legacy is a source for everyone who understands the value of children and childhood. He considered the profession of a teacher to be the learning of humans, and love for a child as the most favourable basis for achieving educational goals, while the development of a child’s spiritual world, a holistic acceptance of the world of childhood and an understanding of its uniqueness and importance as the most important tasks of a teacher. He advocated the trust in a person, in their kindness, in the humaneness of the relationship between the teacher and the student, and insisted on doing good for other people. A teacher must have a great talent of love for people and boundless love for their work and, above all, for children. The teacher must know the soul of the child, know and feel their inner world, instil confidence in their abilities, successful development, know their thoughts, needs, and anxieties. The educator must teach the child to live, touch the strings of the child’s soul with the example of their own life. The task of the school is stated, and namely the personality formation, taking into account the fact that a child is the greatest value for the society, the family, and the teacher. The highest manifestation of Sukhomlynskyi’s humanistic values was the heart devoted to children. It is possible to realize the pedagogical vocation only on the condition of deep trust in the possibility of successful upbringing of each child, harmony of heart and mind, and manifestation of cordiality, sensitivity and benevolence in attitude towards children.