A prominent Russian public figure of the XIX century N.V. Shelgunov and his pedagogical views. To the 200th anniversary of his birth

Annotation. The relevance of the research lies in the characterization of the pedagogical ideas of the prominent Russian pedagogical figure, progressive publicist of the second half of the XIX century N.V. Shelgunov (1824-1891), which are currently of theoretical and practical interest to workers in the field of education in connection with the reform of this most important sphere of the spiritual life of society. The purpose of the study is to analyze the content of Shelgunov's pedagogical views; critical assessments expressed by him in relation to a number of works by figures of Russian education of his time (I.I. Paulson, L.N. Tolstoy, V.I. Vodovozov, etc.) are given. An assessment of Shelgunov's contribution to Russian pedagogical thought is shown. The article was prepared in connection with the 200th anniversary of his birth. Materials and methods. The author uses methods of analysis of scientific and pedagogical literature and the biographical method, as well as historical and axiological (value) methodological approaches. During the work on the material, a number of sources of Russian and foreign researchers, as well as N.V. Shelgunov himself, were used. Results. N.V. Shelgunov entered Russian history as a prominent social democratic figure, as the author of deep, acute and interesting publications that were discussed by the advanced part of Russian society and to a certain extent contributed to the formation of public opinion in Russia in the second half of the XIX century, expressed both in the formulation of consciously expressed demands to the authorities from the progressive part of society, in particular, in the issue of opening new educational institutions, and in connection with the assessment of the quality of textbooks and teaching aids produced for the national school. Shelgunov noted positive sides of school books and their disadvantages. His sharp criticism of activities of the ministry of public education and its head, D.A. Tolstoy, stimulated the advanced part of the then Russian intelligentsia to practice in the interests of educational development. Up to the present time, Shelgunov's articles are of interest, characterizing in historical terms the path traversed by Russian education. Discussion and сonclusions. In his writings, Shelgunov analyzed methodological manuals and study books by I.I. Paulson, V.I. Vodovozov, L.N. Tolstoy and other scientists, gave them an objective, and sometimes critical assessment. He criticized also the state of women education in Russia, although by that time many educational institutions for women had opened. His articles "Letters on education", "What women don't know", etc., were highly appreciated by experts; they became the starting point for subsequent generations of Russian scientists and teachers to develop problems of education, including family education. Public figure and pedagogical publicist N.V. Shelgunov proved himself as one of the most prominent representatives of the revolutionary democratic movement in Russia in the second half of the XIX century. Having joined the organization "Land and Freedom", he carried out practical activities aimed, as he believed, at improving the lives of the people. His pedagogical works made a significant contribution to the treasury of pedagogical knowledge, primarily in the field of the history of education and organization of education of Russian citizens.