Hryhoriy Vashchenko’s Philosophical Foundations of Upbringing

The article presents the views of the Ukrainian scholar Hryhoriy Vashchenko on the goals, content and tasks of upbringing. The key concept of “ideal of upbringing” is revealed, which depends on the state system, worldview, religion and morality, internal forces and external needs, the level of cultural development, and national qualities of each nation. The traditional European ideal of upbringing is built on the principles of harmonious human development. The leitmotif of his creative legacy is the search for the ideal of educating the Ukrainian youth, which is based on two main principles: service to God and service to the Motherland. One can love one’s people only having a high national consciousness, when the Ukrainian people are imagined as a community that unites past, present and future generations, unity with this community is felt, and also a fair attitude towards other peoples has been cultivated. The task of a harmonious upbringing of Ukrainian young people is highlighted. Students should be subjects of the process of upbringing and its active participants. The school should become for them a small homeland that they love and cherish, that they build together with teachers. Vashchenko’s conclusions regarding the upbringing of young people remain relevant even today.