Dear friends, old and new journal readers,

This current issue is quite unusual as it consists only of Russian papers, and all the authors have been doing research within the same research field and using the systems' approach to education and socialization of children and youth; the approach that was originally developed by the famous Russian scholar Lyudmilla Ivanovna Novikova. I am also happy to introduce Professor Natalia L. Selivanova, a guest editor for this issue, a follower of Novikova's ideas, her former student, a long-term research partner, and a current head of The Center of the Strategy and Theory of Education, “Strategy of the Education Development Institute of The Russian Academy of Education”.

Now comes a confession… in being biased as my research life has been closely connected with this Center for many years. To this day I keep warm memories of numerous meetings with outstanding scholars and practitioners there, countless national and international conferences and projects, challenging discussions, and stimulating talks. For me as much as for thousands of others Lyudmilla Ivanovna Novikova will always remain not only an inspiring educational innovator but also a wonderful, kind-hearted, open, and decent person with whom I was able to stay in contact for many years.

Let me introduce the papers’ authors who are all working at the aforementioned Center or closely cooperate with it. They are: Professors Alieva, Demakova, Mudrik, Selivanova, and Shustova; and senior researchers Belyaev, Stepanov, and Stepanova. In addition to the research articles we also decided to briefly introduce Western readers to the lives and ideas of two late famous educators – Lyudmilla Novikova and her closest follower, academician and an extraordinary school principal Vladimir A. Karakovsky who passed away just a few months ago.  Alas, great Teachers are leaving this world but their ideas, their books and… their students stay with us, and our memory of them remains fresh. Consider this journal issue is also a tribute to their memory.

Finally, and as usual, you will find here a paper written by a famous Russian educational historian, and, by the way, a leading research fellow of the same research institute, Professor Boguslavsky. This time he presents the life and activities of a well-known Russian educational innovator from a hundred years ago – Stanislav T. Shatsky.

So without further ado, let me pass you along to the authors and their papers, and wish you a very interesting time with them. We look forward to receiving your comments and ideas.

Always yours,
Tatyana Tsyrlina-Spady
Editor-in-Chief
tsyrlina@aol.com