The community of pioneer counselors in the representations of normative documents and periodicals (1922–1970)

The creation of a mass children's organization in modern Russia, the Movement of the First, actualizes the scientific interest of researchers in the activities of pioneer organizations, including their leadership corps. Recognizing that the results of educational activities largely determined the effectiveness of pioneer education, this article aims to identify the features of institutionalization of communities of counselors within pioneer organizations as represented in normative documents and publications (1922–1970). These tasks are defined within the logic of a methodological research program based on the ideas of social constructivism (T. Berger and P. Luhmann), which includes: consideration of the formation process of leadership communities under the influence of socio-cultural factors; description of their specific features and characteristics as an objective reality; analysis of how these communities’ function within the overall context of the organization. Identification of methods, methods and results of the influence of leadership community on individual, group and society. The main sources for research were regulatory documents (resolutions of Komsomol forums) and materials from periodical press. Comparative analysis of these materials allowed to identify time limits and features of stages of institutionalization of professional community of pioneering counselors. At first stage (1922–1935) professional community was formed with unstable, poorly-prepared, poorly aware of tasks, methods, and means of education. Second stage (1936–1950) saw rapid quantitative growth and constant professional training. At the third stage (1950–1970), the importance of pioneer counselors in the upbringing of children and youth was recognized. They developed as a special professional group (pedagogical and ideological) with their own professional communication platforms (congresses, meetings of counselors). The development of this topic may be related to the study of the ethos of a professional group, a specific language, and the identification of unique and typical images of pioneer counselor.