Teacher's Day is a professional holiday for preschool workers who are involved in the upbringing, development and care of children. The date of the holiday remains the same from year to year - September 27. How Teachers' Day appeared in Russia, why it is so important and how you can congratulate kindergarten workers - in the material of Lenta.ru.
When is Teacher's Day celebrated?
The Day of Teachers and All Preschool Workers in Russia is celebrated annually on September 27. This date was not chosen by chance - it was on September 27, 1863 that the first kindergarten opened in St. Petersburg.
History of the holiday
Although Teacher's Day in Russia received official status relatively recently, its history began in the early 2000s on the initiative of preschool education workers themselves.
The pedagogical publications “Kindergarten from All Sides”, “Preschool Education” and “Obruch” came up with a proposal to establish a special professional holiday for kindergarten employees, emphasizing the importance of their work. In 2003, when it was 140 years since the opening of the first kindergarten, Teacher’s Day was widely celebrated in St. Petersburg for the first time. This initiative quickly found a response in the regions, and since 2004 the holiday began to be celebrated throughout the country.
Shortly before this, the magazine “Preschool Education” and the Moscow College of Sociology conducted a large-scale survey on whether Russia needs a separate holiday in honor of preschool workers. About 2.5 thousand people participated in the study. Of these, 65 percent of respondents noted that they consider the professions of a school teacher and a kindergarten teacher to be different specialties. The overwhelming majority of respondents (66.7 percent) supported the idea of establishing a holiday for teachers. These data were sent to the Ministry of Education and trade unions.
Teacher's Day received the official status of a professional holiday on April 18, 2016, when the Russian government signed a corresponding resolution. Although this day is not a holiday, it is widely celebrated in all preschool institutions of the country, honoring those who take care of preschoolers every day.
History of kindergartens in Russia
The history of preschool education in Russia began on September 27, 1863, when the spouses Karl and Sophia Lugebil opened the first kindergarten in St. Petersburg on Vasilyevsky Island. Karl Lugebiel, a professor at the Imperial St. Petersburg University, and his wife were followers of the German educator Friedrich Froebel, the creator of the kindergarten concept. Froebel viewed children as “God’s plants” and educators as “gardeners,” which formed the basis of the term.
The first Russian kindergarten accepted 30 boys aged three to six years. The education program included reading, singing, dancing and gymnastics. Although the institution was paid, several places were allocated for children from low-income families. Almost simultaneously with him, another kindergarten began operating, organized by the editor of the “Kindergarten” magazine, Adelaida Semyonovna Simonovich.
In subsequent years, preschool institutions began to appear throughout the country.
In Moscow, the first kindergarten opened in 1866 at the Gerke boarding school for girls.
In the period from 1866 to 1870, paid kindergartens appeared in Irkutsk, Voronezh, Smolensk, and Tbilisi.
In 1868-1869, four new paid institutions opened their doors in Moscow.
Of particular importance was the opening in 1866 of the first free kindergarten at the Society of Cheap Apartments for the children of working women in St. Petersburg. This establishment included a sewing workshop, a kitchen, a laundry and a school. The children studied the Holy Scriptures and did handicrafts, but due to financial difficulties the garden soon closed.
By the end of the 19th century, dozens of kindergartens of various types were already operating in Russia. However, in general, the system developed slowly - the nobility preferred home education, and the poor could not afford paid institutions.
Serious changes in preschool education occurred after 1917.
On November 20, 1917, the Declaration on Preschool Education was adopted. The document, for the first time in Russia, proclaimed the free and accessible nature of preschool education and also emphasized the role of education in the development of children and the importance of protecting their rights.
In 1921, the first pedagogical faculty with a preschool department was opened at the 2nd Moscow State University.
In 1934, the first “Program for the work of a kindergarten” was published. She introduced a daily routine, uniform standards of education, and included classes on speech development, counting, creativity and work.
In 1938, the “Kindergarten Charter” and “Guidelines for Educators” were approved.
In the post-war years, the first nurseries for children from two months appeared. By 1970, there were 83.1 thousand preschool institutions in the USSR, which were attended by more than 8 million children.
Today the Russian preschool education system includes:
more than 45 thousand institutions;
nurseries, kindergartens, development centers;
short stay groups.
Traditions of Teacher's Day
Teacher's Day in Russia is a professional holiday for the entire staff of preschool institutions. On September 27, congratulations are accepted not only by teachers, but also by their assistants, methodologists, music teachers, speech therapists, psychologists, nannies, cooks, medical workers and other kindergarten employees - everyone who contributes to the development and education of preschool children.
The holiday has many traditions. Children and their parents congratulate kindergarten workers. The merits of educators are also recognized at the state level. On Teacher's Day, kindergartens hold festive matinees and tea parties with children's parents and staff.
Congratulations from children
The main participants of Teacher's Day are children. They are preparing for the holiday:
themed concerts with songs and dances;
theatrical performances and skits;
exhibitions of crafts and drawings;
reading poems dedicated to educators.
Often the teachers themselves get involved in preparing the holiday, demonstrating their talents.
Professional competitions and forums
On the occasion of Teacher's Day, teachers have the opportunity to participate in professional competitions. So, on a holiday they often spend:
the final stages of the All-Russian competition “Teacher of the Year in Russia”;
regional and city competitions of pedagogical excellence;
creative competitions among preschool institutions.
Educational and scientific events are also held on Teacher’s Day: all-Russian and regional forums for preschool teachers, scientific and practical conferences, master classes and experience exchange seminars.
Awards
Teachers are celebrated with awards and titles on their professional holiday. Among them: departmental awards “Excellence in Education” and “Honored Worker in the Sphere of Education”, diplomas of the Ministry of Education of Russia.
What to give to the teacher
When choosing a gift, it is important to remember that according to the law, the cost of a gift to a teacher should not exceed three thousand rubles, even if it is a collective gift.
When choosing a gift, you should focus on the interests of the teacher. You can also involve children in the discussion or creation of a presentation, who will tell you how to please their teacher. Even a modest but thoughtful gift will be pleasant to the teacher and will remain in memory as a sign of gratitude for his important work.
Gift ideas for Teacher's Day
