Features of patriotic education of youth under the present challenges

The article analyzes the features of patriotic education of youth in the modern realities of life, considers the essence of the concept of «patriotism» as a scientific problem. It identifies the features of patriotism and patriotic education of youth in modern conditions. The change of moral tendencies in society underlines the need for a comprehensive justification of the new paradigm of patriotic education as a process of society development. Patriotism is a factor that unites the country's population in one nation, it is a guarantee of the state stability and development. The question of patriotism became the theme of philosophizing of the ancient philosophers Ptaton and Aristotle. The historical and philosophical aspect of patriotism implies consideration of it as a social and historical phenomenon, caused by socio-political, economic, ethnocultural and other characteristics of a particular society. The main task of national-patriotic education of youth is creation of positive value relations with Ukrainian people, Motherland, own state and nation. The perception of patriotism by higher education applicants and its expression as a value orientation do not always coincide with the normative model enshrined in the programs of patriotic education. Professional and pedagogical influence on the formation of patriotism among young people changes due to the emergence of extraneous influences: the specificity of the student's work, social environment, collective relations. The implementation of patriotic education requires new conceptual approaches, especially the awareness that the formation of patriotism among young people cannot be secondary or subject to social and political manipulation