The goal of this study is to investigate the purposes of pioneers and describe their main achievements, who have worked on training methods of humanity. The article presents the scientific achievements of A.E. Kondratenkov in theoretical and practical pedagogy, among which a special role is given to the rural school as a kind of center for the spiritual revival of the village. The main attention in the article results is focused on the analysis of the contribution of A.E. Kondratenkov to practical humanistically oriented pedagogy, where the enduring values of the spiritual life of a person are humanized. The intrinsic value of human individuality is affirmed as well. As a novel strategy the methodological foundations of the pedagogical system of Kondratenkov and its essence are revealed. Finally, it is shown that the pedagogical activity of A.E. Kondratenkov deserves the research attention of scientists, educators, practitioners, and those who are concerned about the problems of the educational space of the modern school of Russia.