Turkish History Education Journal (May 2022)

Establishment of provincial darülmuallimin-i sıbyan in the Ottoman Empire: Adana Darülmuallimin-i Sıbyan (1892-1908)

  • Ayse Yanardağ

DOI
https://doi.org/10.17497/tuhed.1016350
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 11, no. 1
pp. 56 – 73

Abstract

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In the multinational Ottoman Empire, different ethnic communities gave education according to their own language, tradition and religious beliefs in the educational institutions they established. In this context, Muslim Turks, who were the founding elements of the Ottoman Empire, also established their own educational institutions. Traditionally, Muslim Turks were educated in madrasahs and sıbyan schools (primary schools). These educational institutions were based on rote learning and partially dependent on Shaykh al-Islam in terms of their educational understanding and system. In the 19th century, innovations were made to save the disintegrating state. Innovations were also made in the field of education, and Ottoman junior high schools were opened in 1838, apart from traditional education institutions. The newly opened high school were tried to be kept out of the traditional education system and understanding. For this reason, the different course curriculum and application applied in high school is called the New Method. Darülmuallimin (Teacher's School) was opened in 1848 in order to train teachers equipped to implement the New Method. However, the known inadequacy of primary schools was seen once again in the inadequacy of students who came to secondary schools. Innovations at the Sıbyan level have become irrecusable. For this reason, usul-i cedit was tried to be spread in the ibtidai schools opened at the primary education level. Then, Darulmuallimin-i Sıbyan (The School of Primary Teachers’ Training) was opened in 1868 to train teachers for primary schools. Primary schools and Darülmuallimin-i Sıbyans opened in Istanbul were tried to be popularized in the provinces. In this context, a secondary school and a primary school were opened in Adana in 1880 and Darülmuallimin-i Sıbyan School in 1892. While teachers were trained in a new way in Adana Darülmuallimin-i Sıbyan school, existing teachers and village imams were trained in a way that can be called in-service training. However, Adana Darülmuallimin-i Sıbyan was not very popular and did not have many students. This study is primarily a historical one, and the establishment of Darülmuallimin-i Sıbyan in Adana and why it did not have many students and the problems that arose were examined based on archival documents. The establishment and development of Adana Darülmuallimin-i Sıbyan School between the years 1892-1908 has been tried to be explained in a cause-effect relationship with a historical perspective. In the study, Ottoman archive documents, educational yearbooks and Adana province yearbooks were used. In addition, copyrighted works were also used.

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