Some considerations on the reception of Makarenko’s pedagogical thought in Italy

The article focuses on the most important pedagogist in the USSR, Anton Semenovyč Makarenko, who went down in history for his educational colonies, designed for the rehabilitation of deviant children. Particular attention is paid to the period between the first post-war period and the 1930s, in which we first witnessed the clash between neo-idealistic and progressive pedagogical currents, then the confrontation between communist intellectuals, which saw Makarenko committed to defending his idea of education from attacks by detractors. Furthermore, both the specific contribution of the Ukrainian educator to the foundation of the Soviet school system, relevant more on a practical than a theoretical level, and the reception of his ideal in the Italian pedagogical field were highlighted.