Historical experience of informal pedagogical support of motherhood and infanity in Russia on the cusp of the 19th and 20th centuries

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Historical experience of informal pedagogical support of motherhood and infanity in Russia on the cusp of the 19th and 20th centuries

Fedorchenko Natalia Vitalievna

Abstract

motherhood pedagogical support infancy

In our days an articulate system of medical and social support for young mothers is established at the state level, however, the need for pedagogical support for families with children of the first months of life is very high, it is partially compensated by the work of informal subjects of pedagogical activity. Turning to the historical sources of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the authors found that the problem is not new. Experience in the activities of public organizations in this area existed even in tsarist Russia, for example, the Society "Drop of Milk" held educational consultations for women. Documents such as -- Charters of public organizations, annual reports, advertising materials, conference information leaflets, provided rich factual material illustrating the state of the problem in the specified historical period. Presented in the article historical research demonstrates that social initiatives are an important factor in educating and supporting mothers raising infants, and the problem of pedagogical support for mothers with infants has not lost its relevance over the past hundred years. Historical experience leads us to the idea of the need to build a system of pedagogical support for young mothers at the state level. The purpose of our study is to study the historical experience of informal pedagogical support of motherhood and infancy and to make comparisons with modernity.

Keywords: pedagogical support of mothers; informal subjects of pedagogical activity; protection of motherhood and childhood; reduction of infant mortality; "Drop of milk" consultations; breastfeeding; maternity schools

Аннотация

Федорченко Наталья Витальевна

Исторический опыт неформальной педагогической поддержки материнства и младенчества в России на рубеже 19-20 веков

В настоящее время на государственном уровне налажена стройная система медицинского и социального сопровождения молодых матерей, однако велика потребность в педагогической поддержке семей с детьми первых месяцев жизни, которая частично восполняется работой неформальных субъектов педагогической деятельности. Обратившись к историческим источникам конца 19 -- начала 20 века, авторы выяснили, что проблема не нова. Ещё в царской России существовал опыт деятельности общественных организаций в данной области, например, общество «Капля молока» проводило просветительские консультации для женщин. Такие документы, как -- Уставы, годовые отчеты, рекламные материалы, информационные листки конференций, дали богатый фактологический материал, иллюстрирующий состояние проблемы в указанном историческом периоде. Представленное в статье историческое исследование демонстрирует, что общественные инициативы -- важный фактор просвещения и поддержки матерей, воспитывающих детей младенческого возраста, а проблема педагогической поддержки матерей с грудными детьми не потеряла свою актуальность за последние сто лет. Исторический опыт наводит нас на мысль о необходимости построения комплексной педагогической поддержки молодых матерей на государственном уровне. Цель нашего исследования -- изучить исторический опыт неформальной педагогической поддержки материнства и младенчества и провести аналогии с современностью. Данная статья ранее публиковалась на русском языке (Федорченко Н.В. Общественные инициативы «охранения жизни младенцев и воспитания детей»: из истории народного просвещения // «Мир науки» (Серия «Педагогика и психология») № 6 (ноябрь- декабрь) 2018 [электронный ресурс], режим доступа: https://mir-nauki.com).

Ключевые слова: педагогическая поддержка матерей; неформальные субъекты педагогической деятельности; охрана материнства и детства; снижение младенческой смертности; консультации «Капля молока»; грудное вскармливание; школы материнства

Introduction

The harmonious development of infants directly depends on the care of infants, the principles of family life, the living conditions of the mother and child, the general level of the mother's reproductive culture [1] and the parental family culture [2].

The central aspect of this research is the cultural-historical, because the achievements in organizing the modern Russian system of integrated support for motherhood and childhood have their own rich history.

Documents such as -- Charters, annual reports, advertising materials, conference information leaflets, provided rich factual material illustrating the state of the problem in the specified historical period.

It turned out that the issues of pedagogical support of mothers and infants, causing difficulties at the present time, were successfully resolved in the Russian Empire in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Material and methods

In preparing this article, we turned to the analysis of unique historical documents of the late 19th century. beginning of the 20th century, reflecting the activities of public institutions and associations supporting motherhood and infancy. Documents such as -- Charters of public organizations, annual reports, advertising materials, conference information leaflets, provided rich factual material illustrating the state of the problem in the specified historical period. The main provisions of this article have been published earlier in Russian [20].

Methods of scientific knowledge: monographic, analysis, synthesis, analogy, systems approach. Empirical methods: survey results were processed and published [19].

Theory

Prerequisites for the emergence of public initiatives to protect motherhood and childhood in Russia at the end of the 19th century -- at the beginning of the 20th century.

In the Russian Empire until 1913, support for motherhood and infancy was built mainly as a public initiative. Indifferent public figures, doctors and philanthropists took on the role of organizers of such support, seeing the enormous infant mortality rate and the deplorable state of enlightening the masses in Russia.

At the turn of the century, infant mortality in our country was, without exaggeration, catastrophic, its volumes were such that contemporaries called it "childhood pestilence" -- out of 1000 newborns, 268 children died by the year, but in some areas this number was exceptional -- Moscow 316, Perm province -- 419, Kungur district of Perm province -- 516, Maloyaroslavets district of Kaluga province -- 636! [3] In percentage terms, this is from 26.8 % to disastrous 63.6 %.

Meanwhile, in European countries, starting from the 90s of the XIX century, there was not only a system of public care for babies, but also a number of legislative measures that required the employer to protect the mother -- the woman in labor, the mother-nurse, which affected the quality of care, feeding and affected infant mortality, which was the highest (in Romania) about 21 %, and on average did not rise more than 15 %, which did not rise more than 15 % on average. The worst indicator was recorded in Romania and amounted to a maximum of about 21 % [3; 4].

Given the difficult socio-demographic context in which support measures for motherhood and infancy were born in the Russian Empire at the end of the 19th -- beginning of the 20th centuries, the driving force of this process can be considered the separation of pediatrics into a separate medical discipline, where a set of practical recommendations taught to mothers at medical procedures was framed. On the other hand, a public, and later a state response to the most difficult situation in the country gave birth to many new social institutions that solved not only medical, but also psychological and pedagogical methods of a social, demographic and educational character.

The period from 1862 to the revolutionary events of 1917 can be called the "golden time of Russian charity". It began with the adoption of a special act changing the procedure for the establishment of "societies for mutual assistance or another charitable purpose". If until 1862 each similar society demanded, at its foundation, to receive the Highest Permission, then the new order implied only coordination with the appropriate departments and ministries. This simplification brought to life many new charitable societies. By 1890, there were almost 2000 of them, and by 1902, 11040 charitable institutions (4762 charitable societies and 6278 charitable institutions) were already functioning in Russia [5]. In the future, the process of creating such societies was simplified even more -- since 1906, the consent of local administrative authorities was enough [6]. In this work, we will pay attention to those societies that set as their goal the preservation of motherhood and childhood and especially the support of natural feeding, as an effective measure to combat the difficult demographic situation of that time.

During this period, such forms of social and medical-educational work on the protection of motherhood and infancy began to take shape, such as:

• "Courses for mothers and teachers".

• "School of Nannies".

• A nursery with shelters for babies.

• Societies committed to countering child mortality.

• Advice for babies.

• Society "Drop of Milk".

In the framework of this article, I would like to examine in more detail the last two of the forms listed above, since it was they who made a significant contribution to the history of the formation of support for mothers with infants.

The first consultations in Russia for mothers with babies "DROP OF MILK"

At the cusp of the 19^th and 20th centuries in the Russian Empire, the first two public consultations were opened for mothers and infants -- "A Drop of Milk", the founders of which were Dr. A.O. Gershenzon (Odessa) and V.O. Hubert (St. Petersburg). The idea and the very name of such institutions came to Russia from abroad. The world's first "Consultation" for mothers at an obstetric clinic was organized in 1890 by Dr. Hergoft [7; 8]. In 1891, in the city of Fecampet (France), Dr. Dufour opened the "Goutte de lait" ("Drop of Milk") -- an institution for supplying milk mixtures to needy children according to their needs and age characteristics [8]. Later, in 1892, Dr. Budin began dispensing sterilized baby milk at the maternity hospital in Paris, and Dr. Variot opened the "Drop of Milk" service, which conducted consultations, examinations, weighing children and had a dairy laboratory [7; 8]. According to doctors familiar with the practice of consulting Dr. Budin, mothers who were breastfeeding brought babies for examination once every two weeks, and artificially fed -- weekly.

During the examination, the weight of the child was always monitored, recommendations were given to the mother for care, hygiene and feeding, and mothers were encouraged to carefully implement the recommendations by receiving, every three months, linen and diapers, milk for older children, 3 pounds of meat per week for poor women and even cash assistance. As a result of the work of the institution, of the children attending the consultation, the survival rate was 100 %, although according to statistics, in Paris in 1898-1904 yrs 69 out of 1000 children or 6.9 % died of diarrhea. Such consultations very quickly began to appear in France itself (by 1906 there were about 150 of them in Paris alone), but also in other countries of Western Europe, America, Asia, Australia and Africa [8]. In Germany and Austria, with meticulousness characteristic of the population of these countries, the work was carried out especially carefully. All dairy kitchens had medical supervision without fail, great attention was paid to the education and training of mothers, for which methodological support was developed -- mothers were given appropriate visual brochures, leaflets and manuals that clearly depict signs of intestinal disorders and the consequences of improper care [8]. The German consultation system itself is very thought out -- in Berlin, for example, by 1910, at each of the 20 mayoralties, milk distribution was organized. In general, in most countries the content of consultations and the distribution of milk is carried out at the state expense [8], however, almost all "Drops of milk" receive payment for baby food at various prices.

The main task posed by the public institutions "Drop of milk" in the Russian Empire is to educate and educate mothers, encouraging them to naturally feed their babies up to 10-12 months [7], and teaching them the principles of hygiene. Help was provided to mothers up to two years old (sometimes up to one and a half year old) children, inclusive [3; 10]. If necessary, objectively confirmed, such as a lack of mother's milk, a need requiring a job, mothers were given specially prepared "baby" milk. Unfortunately, in real conditions, when the social demand for help "Drops of milk" was significantly higher than the organization's capabilities, for example, in the working districts of St. Petersburg, where there was great demand for female labor, or in Taganrog, where only one "Drop of milk" functioned" and only weak, sick children were accepted into the wards, [4] there was a great danger that the main help would be reduced to the distribution of milk and education about only care.

The doctor supported the desire to encourage natural breast-feeding, resist the artificial feeding in every way, citing the educational example of Dr. Karel's consultations, where the prevalence of breast-feeding has increased from 10 % to 93 %, thanks to educational counseling activities. Paying attention to this situation, Professor E.L. Sklovsky warned against "corruption" of mothers by the possibility of obtaining a free (cheap) substitute for breast milk, encouraging them to artificially feed their children. The doctor urged to always strive to encourage natural breastfeeding, to combat artificial milk in every possible way, citing the educational example of Dr. Karel's consultations, where the prevalence of breastfeeding has increased due to the educational activities of the consultations from 10 % to 93 %. [9, p. 12-13].

The charters of institutions also proposed such forms of work with mothers as the search for jobs or labor, which makes it possible to continue breastfeeding the child, raising him; the organization of popular lectures on child hygiene; dissemination in the press and public circles of information about the needs of infants [9].

As mentioned above, the vast majority of the wards of the "Drop of milk" institution in various cities of the Russian Empire were urban poor. "In 80 % of all cases, these are children of laborers, small artisans and factory workers. Many of them huddle in dirty cellars without light, without air; during the autumn and winter, most of our children are carried out in the air only to bring in a consultation" [11, p. 8] According to the compilers of the reports, there were often cases when ward women could not come to the institution for lack of clothes and shoes, if, for example, one family member left in his only boots, and all the rest were forced to stay at home [12, p. 2-3].

Such a disastrous situation forced the organizers of the "Drop of Milk" to look for funds not only for feeding infants, but also for baby clothes, clothes and shoes for mothers, to encourage women who continued to feed their children with food rations [12].

It is noteworthy that the activities of the "Drop of milk" consultations found a response in the hearts of both women themselves and in the public environment of that time. Mothers -- visitors to institutions, showed great attention to the recommendations, began to look more carefully and carefully at their babies: they brought them to the consultation in fresh linen, neat, clean, without diaper rash; monitored compliance with the nutritional regime, did not give complementary foods, not suitable for age [3; 4; 13]. When asked about a nipple made of porridge, mothers "Drops of Milk" now answered: "Why, you can give such a nipple! Do we not understand that this is harmful to the child". Despite the fact that before, when asked why the child in dirty linen didn't wash, the mother could answer: "The hostess bought the water -- she doesn't allow you to take whatever you want" or "you won't interrogate the teapot on the stove -- what kind of wash is there already, and there's nowhere to wash it" [13, p. 18-19].

At the same time, illustrating the public response to helping mothers and infants in need, the collection of charitable donations for the maintenance of Society "Drops of Milk" was quite successful, including:

• receipt of private donations from founders, trustees, honorary and full members of institutions; [12-14];

• fundraising through "circle" fees [13];

• the maintenance by individuals of "scholarship holders" (one or several babies), with reimbursement of monthly expenses for "feeding" in a certain amount [12];

• holding charity evenings, bazaars, exhibitions, private performances to raise funds [13];

• gratuitous assistance of doctors, paramedics and I will give consultations in the work [14];

• in-kind assistance (linen, clothes, baby flour, provision of equipment, premises for work, etc.) [12; 13; 15].

Highly appreciating the results of the activities of public organizations, the Russian state begins to take an active part in their work. So, in 1911, the St. Petersburg City Duma took care of the institutions "Drop of Milk" allocating 13,000 rubles for the organizing of the "Model City Station "Drop of Milk" [8]. In 1913, the "All-Russian Guardianship for the Protection of Motherhood and Infancy" was established under the auspices of the Empress Alexandra Fedorovna, the goal of supporting mothers had become a matter of national importance. Funds in the amount of more than one million ten thousand rubles were allocated to the Society.

By the time of the October Revolution of 1917, the "Drop of Milk" consultations were successfully functioning in many cities of Russia, sometimes being the only source of education and comfort for mothers and babies of the poorest sections of society.

It is noteworthy that after the events of 1917, experience, the system of work, the property of the pre-revolutionary organization and the people themselves, working in the field of supporting motherhood and infancy, became the basis of the system for protecting motherhood and childhood in the USSR. Later, many forms of educational work, initiated for the first time by the Drop of Milk consultations, became part of the practice of state women's clinics and educational institutions that carry out rehabilitation tasks for young mothers studying in these organizations, and the figures themselves of pre-revolutionary institutions for the protection of motherhood and childhood (A.O. Gershenzon, E.L. Sklovsky, G.N. Speransky) became active organizers of the system of maternal and child health in the USSR [6].

Results and discussion

The presented historical review demonstrates that the active educational work of informal subjects of pedagogical activity, carried out in various forms, can spark the official interest of the state in the problem of pedagogical support for families with small children, as happened at the beginning of the 20th century.

Over the years of Soviet rule, the pedagogical component has declined in favor of the medicalization of the work of official institutions with young parents. In our days the need for reliable knowledge and support in families with newborns and infants is high, the lack of support is only partially compensated by public organizations [19], the problem remains relevant both in Russia and in other countries [20; 21].

So far, very little has been said in the scientific and pedagogical literature on the activities of doctors and public associations in the fight against child mortality, operating in the late 19th -- early 20th centuries in the Russian Empire, because the experience of such societies and consultations was considered in a medical context. However, the result of the work of these institutions was of great pedagogical and educational significance for families with infants. Historical experience leads us to the idea of the need to build a system of pedagogical support for young mothers at the state level.

Conclusions

Today, the well-being of the family and the successful development of the child of the first months of life are associated, for the most part, with official medical and social care institutions, but informal subjects of pedagogical activity reappear, repeating the experience of institutions of the early 20th century [19].

Presented in the article historical research demonstrates that social initiatives are an important factor in educating and supporting mothers raising infants, and the problem of pedagogical support for mothers with infants has not lost its relevance over the past hundred years.

We see the need to create a system of comprehensive interdisciplinary support for the family raising a child in the first months of life, in which the pedagogical component will be as significant as medical and social assistance.

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