Lesgaft's Courses

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LESGAFT'S COURSES, also named the Training Courses for Governesses and Teachers of Physical Education, teacher's training institution for women founded in 1896 on the initiative of P. F. Lesgaft by the Society for the Encouragement of Physical Education. They were initially introduced as the Temporary Two-Year Training Courses for Teachers of Physical Exercises and Sports. They received their final name and the status of higher education institution in 1898, and the training time was extended to three years. Training was provided to school-leavers in physics, mathematics, anatomy and physiology, hygiene, psychology, teaching, history, literature, drawing, etc. Practical training was conducted in nurseries, kindergartens, orphanages, and schools. The courses prepared students for work at schools and preschools, but granted them no official rights. In 1905, a building was erected for the courses at 32 Angliisky Avenue. They were reorganised into the Teachers' Training Department of the Free High School attached to Lesgaft's Biological Laboratory in 1906-07. In 1910, the courses developed into the Department of Physical Education of the Higher Courses with a four-year training programme, and from 1916 they became Lesgaft's Higher Courses. Among their teachers they had G. V. Vernadsky, A. I. Zaozersky, A. F. Ioffe, N. I. Kareev, M. M. Kovalevsky, V. L. Komarov, I. V. Luchitsky, A. A. Meyer, N. A. Morozov, L. A. Orbeli, E. V. Tarle, A. A. Ukhtomsky, and S. L. Frank. The courses were reorganised into the Lesgaft Institute of Physical Education in 1919 (see Academy of Physical Education).

Reference: Шабунин А. В. Лесгафт в Петербурге. Л., 1989.

А. P. Kupaygorodskaya. Frank Semen Lyudvigovich
Ioffe Abram Fedorovich
Kareev Nikolay Ivanovich
Komarov Vladimir Leontievich
Kovalevsky Maxim Maximovich
Lesgaft Peter Franzevich
Luchitsky Ivan Vasilievich
Meyer Alexander Alexandrovich
Morozov Nikolay Alexandrovich
Orbeli Leon (Levon) Abgarovich
Tarle Evgeny Viktorovich
Ukhtomsky Alexey Alexeevich
Vernadsky Georgy Vladimirovich
Zaozersky Alexander Ivanovich
Angliisky Ave/Saint Petersburg, city, house 32
Шабунин А. В. Лесгафт в Петербурге. Л., 1989 1895