Igor Zotin / TASS
The first ‘Last Bell’ rang on May 25, 1948, in Krasnodar and Moscow. Krasnodar school No. 12 was headed by honored teacher of the RSFSR Fedor Bryukhovetsky, a follower of legendary Soviet teacher Anton Makarenko.
Valentin Sobolev / TASS
In difficult post-war times, he wanted to unite schoolchildren and decided to introduce a number of traditions at the school, which later spread to other regions. Bryukhovetsky was also one of the initiators of the introduction of ‘Knowledge Day’ on September 1.
Igor Zotin / TASS
A similar idea - to unite schoolchildren - came to the mind of Georgy Aseev, the principal of Moscow School No. 182.
Sergei Solovyev / Sputnik
He had been through the Great Patriotic War, was awarded medals and orders and headed the school at the age of 31, deciding to immediately establish new traditions: starting the school day by listening to the national anthem, doing exercises, organizing school camps and celebrating the ‘Last Bell’.
Igor Zotin / Sputnik
Soon, other schools across the country began supporting the initiative started by Moscow and Krasnodar. And the official holiday was approved by the Ministry of Education of the USSR in the 1970s.
Vladimir Akimov / Sputnik
The main action of the holiday remains unchanged: the graduate carries a first-grader on his shoulder, who, in turn, rings a large bell.
Alexander Shogin / TASS
And ahead - exams, graduation and prom night!
Alexander Alpatkin / Sputnik
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