Orphanages of the Ukrainian SSR: Educators vs Pupils (1945–1950s)

Abstract

The purpose of the article. To analyze the personnel, the interaction of educators with children, to highlight illegal actions and abuse of the staff of orphanages. The methodology of the research. The research uses complex and specific-historical approaches, general scientific (analysis and synthesis, induction and deduction) and special-historical (historical-genetic, comparative-historical) research methods. Scientific novelty consists in a deeper, systematic analysis of the personnel of orphanages and their interaction with pupils. Conclusions. Due to the fact that during the researched period work in orphanages remained in the category of low-paid and unprestigious professions, there was always an acute shortage of not only highly qualified, but also workers with at least the appropriate education. Often, people who had no relation to pedagogy and had no idea about working with children got into management positions in orphanages. This greatly complicated the life of orphans, and sometimes even threatened their lives and health, because low-qualified educators could not provide proper care, which sometimes led to accidents, sometimes to death. In addition, due to the fact that children's homes remained on the periphery of state supervision, favorable conditions were created for various abuses by the staff of these children's institutions. Most of the workers tried to get additional benefits for themselves, starting with excessive bonuses at any convenient opportunity and ending with the theft of property and funds intended for orphans. There were also quite a few cases when directors, and sometimes pioneer leaders, considered pupils as objects for their own sexual pleasure. In addition, it was practiced to use the labor of minor orphans who, with the permission of the directors, were assigned to private individuals as domestic workers.