Fundamental Pedagogy Jana Doležalová

 
a) Heteronomous period – the period until 6 years of age, when one 
acquires the first information and experience. As the child’s intellectual 
abilities are not highly developed in this period, the focus is on fixing the 
information about behaviour and moral habits through requirements and 
training.

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From the viewpoint of the management of the educational process, this 
stage may be divided into two parts. Until 2-3 years of age, the process 
involves impulsive activities of the person that is being educated, as he or 
she is controlled primarily by internal forces, instincts and curiosity.
After communication skills are adapted, during the period of so-called 
heteronomous regulation, external management by the educator takes 
place. This often involves facilitation, i.e. effort to help the person that is 
being educated achieve the educational goals. 
b) Autonomous period – after the children start going to school, the 
period of relative calmness and ease and the approach used in the previous 
phase remain in effect for some time. With the coming of puberty, the 
situation changes essentially and the educational procedures must be 
changed as well. The pubescent is capable of analysing his/her behaviour, 
its causes, means and consequences and evaluation of himself/herself and 
others. Increased criticality towards others and girls’ and boys’ sensitivity in 
puberty place increased requirements on the educators. In any case, they 
have to be educated to the conviction about the appropriateness of moral 
behaviour, given opportunity for acting and behaving morally, so that they 
form a positive attitude to moral behaviour and strengthen their moral 
qualities and character. Tact and consistence are required from the 
educator.
From the point of view of the educational process, the last years of this 
period are characterised as auto-regulation – the individual manages 
himself/herself. This phase is reached over time thanks to previous 
facilitation linked with discussions and self-evaluation and gradual gaining 
of independence.