Russian-Bashkir Schools of Yekaterinburg Uyezd: The Experience of National Educational Activity of the Zemstvo

Abstract

This article analyses the experience of the national educational activity of Yekaterinburg Uyezd Zemstvo between the second half of the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. It is noted that initially, the zemstvo turned to the all-Russian practice of opening Russian and non-Russian vocational schools in accordance with the Rules from March 26, 1870 “On Measures for the Education of Non-Russians Living in Russia.” The establishment and economic maintenance of Russian-Bashkir schools in the region was carried out at the expense of Yekaterinburg Zemstvo, setting the task of enlightening the population of economically disadvantaged areas. The activity of the Zemstvo in opening Russian-Bashkir schools was not always met with support in the Muslim community. In 1898, the opening of the school in Karabolka was disrupted, and in 1902 the school in Asanovo was closed. However, gradually, the network of Russian-Bashkir schools expanded. In 1917, there were six educational institutions of this type (in Berdenish, Sary, Kaluzhbaeva, Karabolka, Alabuga, and Staroe Asanovo). Following the Revolution of 1905, the liberalisation of the religious policy of the government attracted the attention of zemstvo leaders to the confessional schools of the uyezd. Starting from 1908, zemstvo benefits began to be paid to these educational institutions amounting to 3 915 roubles in 1916. The practice of national educational activity of Yekaterinburg Zemstvo was quite liberal and did not have a Russification focus. By aiding the confessional educational institutions of the “new method”, the zemstvo showed respect for the traditional cult and historical past of the Muslim population and thereby sought interaction with the local communities. Muslim leaders, however, hoped to strengthen national elements in education. After the February Revolution, S. S. Khamzin, member of the Yekaterinburg Uyezd Commissariat, released a project, insisting that Russian-Bashkir vocational schools should be transformed into national schools. The uyezd zemstvo postponed the question of organising national schools until the establishment of Muslim volost zemstvos in the uyezd. However, the zemstvo failed to complete these transformations.

Keywords

• урал
• национальное образование
• земство
• мусульманство
• русско-башкирские школы