BULGARIAN TOLSTOYANS – ADVOCATES OF HEALTH EDUCATION AND ECOLOGICAL LIFESTYLE

Abstract

Leo Tolstoy’s pedagogical practice is closely related to the problem of children's health and the way of life that guarantees their physical strengthening. This idea is fully shared by the Bulgarian Tolstoyans, who are among the elite vegetarians, became the predecessors of the pedagogical ideology that emerged later and developed specific measures for the health education of children and students.
In the first half of the 20th century, Bulgarian Tolstoyans contributed to the health education of children in the following areas:
They theoretically substantiated the need for health education and culture in the Tolstoyan periodicals ("Healthy Life", "Vegetarian Review", "Freedom", "New Life"), and provided comprehensive support to the temperance movement.
They give a personal example of a vegetarian lifestyle, which is the healthiest according to their understanding.
They take their students out into nature, organize camps and summer kindergartens, where they practically apply their views on health education.
Each of the Tolstoyan educators has their own unique contribution to the health education of adolescents:
- some worked hard for the health education of children and their parents, subscribing them to appropriate literature;
- others know the healing properties of plants and herbal products, making them known to others;
- still others organize the lives of children in resorts where vegetarian food is offered and health talks are held.
In their ideas, "ecological" overlaps with "nature-friendly", allowing care for nature to become the leading idea of their pedagogical teaching, and care for the physical and moral health of the younger generation - a top priority. Their descendants must grow up in harmony with nature, combining the beautiful and the useful in every interaction with it.
Among the Tolstoyan intellectuals, we can highlight several names that impress with their erudition and diverse activities: Minko Adzharov, Iliya Enchev, Pavel Teoharov. They are spiritual standards for their followers and like-minded people, which makes them iconic figures of the Tolstoyan movement.