Relevance of the publication is caused by need of judgment of realities and prospects of development of the Russian society. The education system is the main factor of updating of tenor of life of the state and further development of democratic institutes. Therefore questions of a humanization of Russian education become defining in historical and pedagogical process. The solution of an objective is impossible without knowledge of history of formation and development of the Russian school. The appeal to historical experience gains now special relevance as promotes updating of values and ideals, preservation of communications of the past with the present, between science and education. The appeal to the European history of a development of education of the second half of XIX--the beginning of the XX centuries, namely gives to Germany essential help. The German pedagogical thought is characterized by existence of rich humanistic traditions and experience. The purpose of article consists in the characteristic from modern positions of the humanistic system offered by the famous teacher of Germany of the second half of XIX--the beginning of the XX centuries George Kershenshteyner. The leading approaches to the characteristic of this problem are system, historical and culturological, the intrinsic characteristics which allowed to reveal, features of civil education in Germany of the considered period. Materials of article can be useful to pedagogical workers, organizers of educational work with the studying youth for acquaintance to life and activity of the famous German teacher and the public figure George Kershenshteyner.