Russian pedagogic thought occupies a significant place in the world pedagogic system. It is characterized by constant search for spiritual and moral foundations which should be the basis of the educational process. A certain extent in the development of humanistic pedagogy is also typical for European-American civilization. It is evidenced by the fact that the Russian pedagogy ideas match with the advanced ideas of European and American pedagogical thought. The aim of the article is to analyze the experience of implementing humanistic ideas in the practice of organizing the educational process associated with the traditions of the “Athenian school” and names of such famous educators as J. A. Comenius, G. Kerschensteiner, M. Montessori, J. Dewey.