The article considers discursive forms of assistance to young teachers in the form of memos, tips, hints, etc., which provide advice from experienced teachers and methodologists of the educational system, formulate traditional views on the role of the teacher, methods and forms of pedagogical influence, and other useful, in the opinion of their authors, «secrets» of effective education and training. It is shown that some memos and tips are based on contradictory and outdated concepts and views on the nature of knowledge and the functioning of the human psyche and personality from the point of view of science. A critique of the reductionist approach in practical pedagogy is given.