Against the Current: Schoolchildren’s Informal Organizations in the 1930s and Early 1940s

The article is devoted to the schoolchildren associations of 1930s and early 1940s, which were created as grassroot initiatives, bypas sing—and often standing in opposition to—the pioneers Komsomol. These forms activity make it possible see adolescents an unusual light—as subjects history—and imagine how socio-political realities ideology this period refracted their minds. above material shows that, other periods, children’s amateur 1940s grew out needs that not met within state system education upbringing. political repressions swept country second half did become obstacle for these movements. However, a strong “formatting” effect was exerted by focal points policy aimed at children time. tightening school discipline normative pressure on recalcitrant, ideological with emasculated revolutionary meanings provoked reactions like Merton’s retreats rebellion. Their organizational projections were, respectively, interest clubs, sometimes delinquent bias, protest groups various kinds. weakening Soviet isolationism decrease during war years stimulated emergence gaming communities model activities through perspective rapprochement nations.