Pedagogical Poem

The name A. S. Makarenko has become one of the symbols of the Soviet era, and his works were the most popular writings on youth education at that time. The world has changed, everyday life has drastically transformed, one political system has given way to another, yet Makarenko's writings remain in demand just as before. «In September 1920, the head of the regional education department summoned me and said: „Here’s the thing, brother...“» — this is how the legendary «Pedagogical Poem» (1935) begins. A school teacher was offered to head a colony for juvenile offenders. He agreed. Thus began the history of the children's colony named after Gorky. Makarenko composes his book as a calm, slightly ironic narrative, hiding the secret of his educational system «between the lines». The text of the «Pedagogical Poem» is published unabridged.