“Stepka-rastrepka” in the Minutes of the Meeting of the Library Commission of the Society for the Promotion of Preschool Education (based on Materials from the Archive of the Demonstration Childhood Reading Library)

Abstract

“Stepka-rastrepka” in the Minutes of the Meeting of the Library Commission of the Society for the Promotion of Preschool Education (based on Materials from the Archive of the Demonstration Childhood Reading Library)

The article is devoted to the publication of the minutes of the meeting of the Library Commission of the Society for the promotion of preschool education, reflecting a lively exchange of views on “Stepka-Rastrepka”. On the one hand, “Stepka-Rastrepka” was banned for a long time by teachers, who categorically refused to recognize its literary and educational value. On the other hand, professional writers and artists (A. Blok, Z. Gippius, A. Remizov, A. Benoit, A. Ostroumova-Lebedeva) spoke out in defense of “Stepka-Rastrepka” and urged not to deprive children of such fun and entertaining reading. The article also provides brief information about the activities of the Society for the promotion of preschool education and the work of its Library Commission, which discussed a wide range of issues related to literature for preschool children. The original protocols are stored in the Fundamental library of the Herzen State Pedagogical University and are available to all categories of researchers.

Keywords: Stepka-Rastrepka, children’s literature, children’s reading circle, Society for the promotion of preschool education, Library Commission, children’s literature library, Demonstration library for children’s reading, discussion about children’s literature, criticism of children’s literature