Educational Psychology—Limitations and Possibilities

CHAPTER 34
Lev Vygotsky
KATE E. O’HARA
Lev Semonovich Vygotsky was born on November 5, 1896, in the small Russian town of
Orsche. Within the first year of his life, his family moved to Gomel, one of the few designated
provinces reserved for those of Jewish descent in tsarist Russia. Vygotsky’s parents were both
well educated and spoke several languages fluently. The second oldest child of eight children,
Vygotsky frequently helped in the upkeep of the household and care of the younger siblings. The
family was very tightly knit, and often joined together in discussions about history, literature,
theater, and art. It was these family discussions that exposed Vygotsky to a wide range of interests.
His elementary education was received at home, studying independently and having a tutor
for consultation. After passing an exam for the first five years of grade school, he entered into
a private all boys secondary school known as a gymnasium—a secondary school that prepared
students for the university. There he was a consistent student, and did equally well in all subjects.
He graduated in 1913, with hopes of becoming a teacher, but unfortunately training for this
profession was not an option. Teaching in public schools was a position not available for Jews
in prerevolutionary Russia, and therefore his parents suggested he become a doctor because this
would allow him more freedom.
Acting on the advice of his parents, Vygotsky sent an application to the Medical School of
Moscow University and was accepted. After studying at the school for about a month, he realized
that medicine was far from his true interest and transferred to the Law School of the same
university.
And so again he began to study intensely, but like medicine, law was not pleasing to him. He
was intent upon studying his true interests: literature, art, philosophy, and philosophical analyses
of art. As a result, he decided in 1914, without interrupting his education at the law school, to
enroll in the historical–philosophical division of Shanavsky University, a Jewish public university.
The level of instruction at this university was very high, taught by leading scientists and scholars
of that time; however, the degrees awarded were not accepted by the government, and graduates
received no official recognition.
In December of 1917, the year of the Russian revolution, Vygotsky returned to Gomel after
completing his education at both universities, and graduating from Moscow University with a
degree in law. Upon returning home, Vygotsky was met by unfortunate family circumstances. His