Historický obraz školstva na Slovensku v reflexii Josefa Hendricha
Historical Image of Education in Slovakia in the Reflection of Josef Hendrich

Summary/Abstract: The study focuses on the biographical and socio-cultural foundations of the pedagogical thought of Josef Hendrich (1888–1950) and on an analysis of his work “How People Once Studied in Slovakia” (1937) within the context of historical-pedagogical research. The aim of the paper is to highlight Hendrich’s methodological position between positivism and the normative conception of pedagogy, as well as his contribution to the understanding of the history of education in Slovakia. The text is based on an analysis of Hendrich’s scholarly orientation, his Comeniological research, and his academic activity in both Czech and Slovak intellectual environments. Special attention is devoted to the characteristics of the aforementioned work, which—through a selection of autobiographical texts by prominent Slovak figures (Ján Seberíny, Samuel Tomášik, Ján Francisci, Ján Kalinčiak)—reconstructs the form of Latin and denominational schooling from the 16th century to the early 20th century. The study examines the linguistic, cultural, and socio-political dimensions of education, including the processes of the Reformation, Counter-Reformation, the Theresian and Enlightenment reforms, as well as the consequences of Magyarization policies in the Kingdom of Hungary. In conclusion, the paper emphasizes the significance of Hendrich’s work as a synthesis of empirical material and historical-philosophical reflection, transcending purely descriptive historiography and contributing to a value-oriented understanding of pedagogy as a science concerned with the formation of the human being.

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