Teachers S. A. and K. Ya. Lyugebil and their first kindergarten in Russia

Introduction. The history of the creation of the first preschool institutions in Russia is of interest to modern Russian historical and pedagogical science. The purpose of the article is to characterize the work of the first Russian kindergartens and the ascetic educational activities of the pioneers of Russian preschool education. Materials and methods. The leading research methods are the analysis of scientific literature, the biographical method. The author actively used an axiological methodological approach, which made it possible to identify and evaluate the most important achievements of the Lyugebil spouses and other Russian teachers in opening the first kindergartens in Russia. Results. Spouses Sofya Andreevna (1824-1914) and Karl Yakimovich Lugebil (1830-1887/1888) entered the history of Russian education as the founders of the country's first kindergarten. In their work, the Lugebil couple used the experience of their foreign predecessors, first of all, the German teacher F. Froebel, the creator of the first kindergarten in Europe. They were active members of the Pedagogical Society, at whose meetings they closely communicated with K. D. Ushinsky, P. G. Redkin and other prominent Russian teachers of that time; they invariably supported their progressive position on various issues of education development and sought to promote the idea of widespread preschool education in Russia. Discussion. The advanced teacher E. N. Vodovozova believed that the Lugebil spouses in their work sought to avoid thoughtlessly following the experience of others, even famous teachers such as F. Froebel and his direct students and followers. The Lugebiles went their own unique way. The progressive magazine Sovremennik paid close attention to the work of the first kindergarten, and in its articles gave a full account of the educational work carried out in this institution. The first kindergarten gave an impetus to the opening of similar institutions throughout the country, including in the province. Conclusion. The practical activities of the Lugebil spouses and other Russian teachers of the second half of the XIX – early XX centuries included axiological, humanistic content and therefore had a noticeable impact on the development of preschool education in Russia. The opening day of the first kindergarten, September 27 (1863), is celebrated in modern Russia as the day of the preschool worker.