Stories of the Czech Nursery School. The Development and Transformations of Pre-school Education (Volume 2 1948-1989)
Abstract
Stories from the Czech Nursery School II covers the years between 1948-1989 to illustrate the marked contrast between the interwar and postwar periods of Czechoslovak pre-school education. Following on from the 250 year period covered by Stories from the Czech Nursery School I, pre-school education during this 41 year period was characterised by many dramatic changes which are essential not to forget.
It was a time when a Marxist political ideology so incompatible with Czechoslovak tradition and values, significantly influenced the features of pre-school education. The development of legislation, standardised materials and curriculum documents introduced major implications for how nursery schools operated and shows the degree to which the period under totalitarianism made Czechoslovak pre-school education almost unrecogniseable.
The state authorities only published texts written by Soviet theorists and refused to publish established ideas about pre-school education written by Czechoslovak theorists. Although, pre-school education still retained a respectful attitude towards the child, the uncritical use of such texts formed the only basis for understanding the purpose of pre-school education and organising how nursery schools operated on a day to day basis.
With the passing of time and by adopting a critical approach, it is now possible to identify the ideas and opinions of the period which can be retained and those which should be rejected. Stories from the Czech Nursery School II is intended to enable Czech pre-school teachers to confront the past and free themselves from its negative legacy.
At the same time, the text aims to support the continuing work of developing pre-school education for the child, their teachers and the future of society.