History 23/01/20 “Zagorsk experiment”: what experiments were experimenting on deaf-blind children in the USSR

In the 1960-1970-ies the so-called “Zagorsk experiment” was widely reported in the media. And no wonder: for those years, it was a quite unique experience of deaf-blind children. However, despite the fact that the experiment was a success, the organizers repeatedly subjected to harsh criticism.

speech pathologists-pioneers

One of the first institution for teaching deaf-blind children was organized in 1923 in Kharkov, a famous pathologist Ivan sokolyanskiy. Among the most famous graduates of Sokolyanskiy — Olga Skorokhodova, who later became a candidate of pedagogical Sciences and a writer. According to the author of the book “From the history of Soviet philosophy”, S. N. Mareev, another Patriotic speech pathologist Alexander Meshcheryakov, inspired by the success Sokolyanskiy, and with the support of colleagues, has built the training of pupils from the Zagorsk boarding school, deprived of sight and hearing, for a similar model. To Mescheryakov and Sokolyanskiy joined philosopher Evald Ilyenkov.

they were convinced that thanks to a special technique, the children not only master the secondary school curriculum, but also be able to finish higher education. In other words, scientists wanted to prove the innate intellectual abilities of a person has no in principle, any individual, not even having a full “set” of feelings that could develop into a full person, as Olga Skorokhodova. By the way, Skorokhodov also participated in the “Zagorsk experiment” as a teacher. At least, this fact is mentioned in his book “to Educate gifted children. How?” Elena Nikolaeva.

Learning and success

according to the publication, “pre-school education and training of children with complex disorders,” edited by P. A. Golovchin in boarding school in the town of Zagorsk, founded in 1963, the children were trained with a combination ofTanami sensory impairments, starting 2 years of age. At first, the pupils carried out actions on the initiative of the teacher and along with him, but later gradually moved on to full independence. One of the Central roles Meshcheryakov, and other teachers assigned to the development of means of communication: gestures, manual words, writing. Thanks to these methods, the four children of the Zagorsk boarding school specialists managed to prepare for admission to the University.

In 1971, Yuri Lerner, Sergei Sirotkin, Natalia Korneyev and Alexander Suvorov entered the psychological faculty of the Moscow state University. However, deafblind students needed a little more time for training. And this was mainly due to the fact that graduates of the Zagorsk boarding school had to resort to the help of translators on oral lectures and all literature reprinted in Braille. However, the diplomas of higher education received by all the participants “of the Zagorsk experiment”.

the Fate of the pupils and criticism of the experiment

But the pupils Mescheryakov decided not to stay. All four have made great strides, which can boast not every seeing and hearing. So, according to the book “Hormones of happiness”, written by Boris and Egor Polomoshnova, Alexander Suvorov was the author of the original work on the psychology of creativity, and the doctor of psychological Sciences, Yuri Lerner, a talented sculptor, Sergey Sirotkin – the inventor and PhD, and Natalia Korneeva – employee, Psychological Institute of Russian Academy of education.

However, despite the fact that the experiment was a success, the organizers repeatedly subjected to harsh criticism. So, S. N. Mareev, the author of the book “From the history of Soviet philosophy”, writes that many did not find the experience Zagorski educators “clean”. The fact that the pupils of a boarding school, managed to get a higher education, were deprived of sight and hearing do notamogo of birth: Yury Lerner lost the sight in 4 years, and the rumor is 7 years, Sergey Sirotkin — only completely blind for 5 years, Natalia Korneeva — completely deaf by the age of 9, Alexander Suvorov became blind at 4 years and hearing lost in 9 years. However, the contribution of Alexander Meshcheryakov, Ivan Sokolyanskiy and Ewald Ilyenkov in science it is impossible not to admit that even in modern literature for pathologists, their names are always in the first places.

Yulia Popova

Source:
© Russian Seven

see also: editor’s choice, “Russian Seven”thieves in law on the eve of the Olympics-80 struggled with prestupnostyu snipers at the end of the great Patriotic was not wearing a distinctive Black snakepower devil in Khakassia: the most mysterious place in Sibiryak to understand in the organism the deficit Belorechenskoye article also Listen to the podcast “the Russian Seven”. Share: Comments Comments on the article “the”Zagorsk experiment”: what experiments were experimenting on deaf-blind children in the USSR” Please log in to leave a comment! br>
Share on Tumblr