LEO TOLSTOY’S FOLK PEDAGOGY: A DEMOCRATIC REVOLUTION IN EDUCATION

This article examines Leo Tolstoy’s contributions to folk pedagogy, focusing on his experimental school at Yasnaya Polyana (1859–1862) and his ABC Book (Azbuka, 1872). Rejecting authoritarian education models, Tolstoy championed child-centered learning, cultural relevance, and moral development through folklore. His methods—emphasizing freedom, dialogue, and peasant wisdom—anticipated progressive education movements by decades. Despite criticism from Tsarist officials, Tolstoy’s pedagogy influenced later reformers, including Montessori and Dewey. This study analyzes his key principles, pedagogical innovations, his predecessors and enduring relevance in contemporary education debates.