ПЕДАГОГІЧНА ДІЯЛЬНІСТЬ ПЕТРА КУЗЬМИЧА ЗАГАЙКА (1928 – 2013 рр.)

The article is devoted to elucidation of the essence and peculiarities of pedagogical activity of Ukrainian pedagogue and enlightener Petro Kuzmich Zahaiko who is famous in Ukraine and abroad as the author of more than 70 research articles, manuals and monographs, the editor of research studies and monographs in the field of teaching skills and pedagogics. It is accentuated that pedagogical activity of P. K. Zahaiko was inseparably linked with his working during almost half a century at Poltava V. G. Korolenko State Pedagogical Institute. Working at first as a lecturer and later as an assistant professor and a head of the chair of Ukrainian literature P. K. Zahaiko combined teaching, research, social and elucidative activities; investigated literature, language and pedagogical problems; contributed to the development of Ukrainian literature and promoted Ukrainian national ideas in the Poltava Region in the second half of the XX century. It is established that during different time periods P. K. Pahaiko was a head of the literary group and the literary school «Zaspiv», and a member of the institute art board and the methodics board of regional association «Knowledge»; he worked with Lviv social sciences branch of Academy of Sciences of USSR and was a member of so-called «communities» (cultural and elucidative organizations the principal purpose of which was the development of Ukrainian culture and education). For the long and distinguished education of youth the pedagogue was conferred a decoration with a badge «Excellent worker of national education of the USSR» and a medal «Labour veteran». For the achieved progress in the field of pedagogical activity, popularization of ideas and theoretical heritage of A. S. Makarenko among the students and public the pedagogue was conferred a decoration with A. S. Makarenko medal. It is proved that P. K. Zahaiko contributed to the affirmation of Ukrainian national ideas. That’s why his pedagogical activity was on the retention of national cultural valuables, the development of Ukrainian language and literature, and education of conscious citizens and patriots of Ukraine. The multilateral activity of pedagogue and enlightener was one of the powerful factors of Ukrainian national and cultural revival in the second part of the XX century