The science of pedagogy in Soviet Estonia (1944-1991) Resilience in the face of adversity

• Published in: History of education (Tavistock) Vol. 47; no. 1; pp. 108 - 124
• Main Authors: Rõuk, Vadim, Walt, J. L. van der, Wolhuter, Charl
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Routledge 01-01-2018; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: 20. Jahrhundert; 20th century; Adversity; Bildungsgeschichte; Content Analysis; cultural trauma theory; Education history; Educational Administration; Educational Change; Educational History; Educational Innovation; Educational philosophy; Educational Research; Erziehungsphilosophie; Estland; Evaluation; Foreign Countries; Foreign Policy; Geschichte (Histor); Global Approach; Historical analysis; Institutional Characteristics; Pedagogy; Politische Einstellung; Pädagogik; Research Methodology; Resilience; Resilience (Psychology); resilience theory; Resilienz; Scholarship; Science; scientific pedagogy; Social Influences; Soviet Estonia; Sowjetunion; Teaching; Trauma; Trauma (Med); Trauma (Psy); USSR; Estonia; Union of Soviet Socialist Republics > USSR
• ISSN: 0046-760X; 1464-5130
• DOI: 10.1080/0046760X.2017.1373305

This article examines how education unfolded as a science in Estonia in the period 1944-1991, i.e. from the second Soviet occupation to the fall of the USSR. Historical analysis of the way prominent scholars and institutions succeeded in overcoming the adverse conditions of that period is conducted by viewing their respective contributions through two theoretical lenses: cultural trauma theory to explore the adversities they had to contend with, and resilience theory to explain how those challenges were overcome. Through these means an account is constructed of how individuals and institutions succeeded in preserving the national Estonian and inter-war European legacy of educational philosophy, in the process confronting and countering adverse socio-cultural-political conditions.