The Social Education of Bulgarian Youth

The Social Education of Bulgarian Youth was first published in 1968.The detailed description and analysis of Bulgaria’s educational system provides significant background information for those concerned with the broad social and political implications of a contemporary Communist society as well as furnishing valuable material for specialists in comparative education.Professor Georgeoff’s study is based on intensive field work which he carried out in Bulgaria. He presents, first, a brief overview of the entire educational system, from the preschool program for the children of working mothers to postgraduate university study. He then analyzes the political, social, and psychological factors involved in the educational process in terms of the educational objectives set for the nation by the government, the Bulgarian Communist Part, and educators.The primary focus is on elementary education, but all levels of education are considered, particularly with regard to the role each plays in the overall educational program. Among the factors considered are administration, methods, materials, evaluation, teacher education, and extracurricular children’s and youths’ organizations. In a final section there is a compilation of pertinent documentary material such as statistical data on Bulgarian education and, in English translation, laws, regulations of the Ministry of Education, excerpts from speeches, newspaper articles, and other pronouncements, and selections from methods books used in teacher education as well as from children’s school texts. For purposes of the study the author defines social education as the induction of youth into the traditions, values, mores, ethics, and ideology which characterize Communist society.