Juozas Avižonis

LTReikšminiai žodžiai: Asmenybės ugdymas; Biografija; Biografiniai tyrimai; Mokytojas; Mokytojo asmenybė; Mokytojo vertybės; Biographical research; Biography; Personality development; Teacher J.Avižonis; Teacher ethics and tact; Teacher values.

ENJuozas Avižonis expected much of the teachers. He said that educators at school, both lay and clergy, had to follow the teacher’s ethics and tact. They needed to support and respect each other’s teaching, because the school’s goal was to educate an individual, and so he had to be jointly educated. Avižonis spoke out against politicization at school as it harmed personality development. He also criticized the activities of political organizations at school or beyond, claiming, that slogans from the street poisoned school and the development of a personality. He only supported the creation of general education circles, student libraries, small cooperatives and similar non-political organizations. Avižonis even dared to encourage the Ministry of Education to forbid the teachers to politicize. As a teacher of history, he believed that the main task of such teachers was to awaken the students to love the past, from which culture had emerged and the present. History helps the young person to understand social issues, the development of the economy and the responsibilities of its members. History develops the students’ mind, hardens their character and educates a conscious citizen of the nation. [From the publication]