Social and Legal Status of Administrative and Academic Staff in West Siberia, 1885–1918: Historiographical Aspect

Abstract

The article covers the social and legal status of the administrative and academic staff in the West Siberian Education District in 1885–1918. This matter remains largely understudied in Russian historiography as the available sources are uneven in quality and quantity. Domestic historiography also lacks methodological and axiological tools that could reveal the correlation between the socio-legal status of education officials and the development of the education system. The research objective was to identify the level of knowledge that historical studies have to offer on the social and legal profile of the administrative and academic staff in West Siberia in 1885–1918. The data obtained made it possible to identify areas of scientific research in Pre-Revolution, Soviet, and Russian scientific literature. The research relied on the principles of objectivity, historicism, and consistency. The historiographic analysis was in line with the problem-chronological principle. The review consisted of three parts, depending on the chronology, methodology, and scope of research: pre-Revolution (1874–1917), Soviet (1917–late 1980s), and post-Soviet (early 1990s–present). The authors determined the contribution of some researchers to the history of the education system of the Russian Empire, as well as analyzed the role of pre-Revolution, Soviet, and post-Soviet studies of the education system in West Siberia. The article introduces the views and methodological standpoints on the development of the social and legal profile of the administrative and academic staff in West Siberia.

Keywords

• socio-legal status
• west siberian educational district
• higher education
• educational institutions
• education management system
• western siberia