Yuriy А. Kovalenko

The historical aspects of the development of the physical education system for various population groups in our country continue to be the focus of attention for modern researchers without losing their relevance. The aim of this work was to examine the development of physical education and sports activities among Crimean schoolchildren from the mid-1930s to the early 1940s. Based on systemic and regional approaches, this work used a variety of general theoretical and historical-pedagogical methods, including analysis and generalization of scientific and methodological literature, system-historical analysis, and historical-retrospective and comparative methods. The main sources for studying this issue are the documents of the Republican Committee for Physical Education and Sports under the Council of People's Commissars of the Crimean Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic from 1936 to 1941, which were first introduced into scientific circulation. The analysis of the scientific fund showed that physical education, since the mid-1930s, had taken a significant place in the system of education of the younger generation in the regions of the USSR, in particular in the Crimean ASSR. It was found that, in addition to improving the physical condition of students, work in the ideological, patriotic, and moral spheres had been significantly intensified. By the beginning of the 1940s, comprehensive coverage of compulsory physical education classes had been achieved in educational institutions in Crimea, and efforts were made to improve the staffing, material and technical resources for physical education. The self-organized physical education movement in school clubs and physical education teams was constantly expanding. During the period under study, the development of the ГТО and БГТО (Ready for Labour and Defence of the USSR) complexes as a methodological basis for physical education of Soviet schoolchildren was completed. School sports teams were included in the system of sports competitions from intra-school to all-Union levels. The theoretical significance of the work lies in obtaining previously unknown data on the organization of physical education and sports activities in schools of the Crimean Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic in the late 1930s and early 1940s, which contribute to a more comprehensive and in-depth understanding of the region's development. The practical significance of this work lies in the possibility of critical reflection and the borrowing of positive experience for the further development and improvement of the modern system of physical education for school-aged children.

The issues of patriotic education and military-physical training of students at higher educational institutions for military service and state defense remain relevant in any historical era. In the article the authors attempted to identify the organizational and pedagogical aspects of mass defense, physical education and sports activities using the example of higher educational institutions of the Crimean ASSR in the late 30s – early 40s of the 20th century. Based on a systematic and regional approach, the scientific article used a complex of general theoretical, historical, and historical-pedagogical methods (analysis and generalization of scientific and methodological literature, system-historical analysis, historical-retrospective, comparative methods, and modeling). The main sources for studying this issue are the documents of the Republican Committee for Physical Education and Sports under the Council of People's Commissars of the Crimean Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic from 1937 to 1941, which were first introduced into scientific circulation. The results of the conducted research allowed us to identify the key features of the system of defense, physical education, and military-patriotic work in the Crimean higher education institutions during the studied period. It was found that its effectiveness was ensured by the integration of the efforts of the state, public, and party bodies of the peninsula, as well as the administration and public activists of the universities. The best teaching staff was concentrated in educational institutions, and training assistants were prepared from among the students. Educational institutions were included in the system of sports and social competitions, from intra-university to Аll-Crimean levels. Almost all students and faculty members of Crimean higher education institutions participated in sports or defense sections, brigades, clubs, and detachments, and were involved in passing the standards for obtaining defense badges. The system of organizing defense work in Crimean higher education institutions demonstrated its effectiveness during the Great Patriotic War. The theoretical significance of the work lies in obtaining previously unknown data on the organization of defense and military physical education in the universities of the Crimean ASSR, which contributes to a more complete and profound understanding of the region's development. The practical significance of the work is due to the possibility of further critical reflection and borrowing of positive experience for the further development and improvement of the modern system of training students to defend their country.