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5. Girls’ boarding schools’ gardens in the Age of Enlightenment

Girls’ boarding schools’ gardens in the Age of Enlightenment

Ponomareva V.V.

Lomonosov Moscow State University, History Department, Laboratory for the History of Russian Culture, Lomonosov Prospect, 27, Moscow, 119192, Russia

Ponomareva Varvara Vitalievna, PhD.; ORCID ID: 0000-0003-1707-2281; varvarapon@mail.ru.

Abstract

Materials and methods. This study, based on a wide range of sources, some of which feature in academia for the first time, using a historical typological method, looks at the introduction of principles of physical education offered to children of the Enlightenment era into daily life of the schools of the Mariinsky Establishment. Results. Throughout the eighteenth century, influential works from scholars such as John Locke and N.I. Novikov highlighted the importance of daily hygiene and healthy routine, cold water hardening, simple balanced diet, lightweight clothing, physical exercise in fresh air and other principles, which only became commonplace in public consciousness much later. Innovative approach to physical education, supported by the Russian state, was integrated into the governmental pedagogical doctrine and implemented in the second half of the eighteenth century in boarding schools and other educational establishments. Discussion. The study focuses on a school garden, examined as a vehicle for a healthy physical upbringing of children and adolescents. The article discusses how with time girls’ boarding schools’ gardens evolved into complexes with tree-lined alleys, winter and summer sports grounds, variety of swimming pools, vegetable and flower beds, galleries and alcoves. By the end of the nineteenth century at least, outside spaces in schools were overseen by doctors, who noted positive effects of prolonged fresh air exercise and swimming on the children

Keywords

physical education; healthy lifestyle; Age of Enlightment; school garden; girl's boarding schools; Department of Empress Maria establishments

DOI: 10.32521/2074-8132.2021.1.139-150

Цит.: Ponomareva V.V. Girls’ boarding schools’ gardens in the Age of Enlightenment // Moscow University Anthropology Bulletin (Vestnik Moskovskogo Universiteta. Seria XXIII. Antropologia), 2021; 1/2021; с. 139-150