Storìnki Istorìï (Oct 2013)
ПРОБЛЕМА УКРАЇНСЬКОЇ МОВИ В НАРОДНІЙ ПРОСВІТІ ТА ПИТАННЯ ПРОГРЕСУ В УКРАЇНСЬКІЙ І РОСІЙСЬКІЙ ПУБЛІЦИСТИЦІ 1860-х — 1880-х рр.
Abstract
This article examines publicistic debate of 1860–1880s about status and place of the Ukrainian language in the primary education. There were two conflicting positions towards the idea of progress in Russian Empire. The supporters of introduction of Ukrainian language into primary education believed that its use would stimulate productive mental activity of people and therefore give them opportunity to resist Russian influence. As an example they brought the situation with the Russian language in Halychyna. The conservatives regarded a bilingual separation as pernitious. They believed that the union based on the Russian languagewould also contribute to the development of literature and education. In 1860s official circles regarded the position of Ukrainian activists as a sign of political separatism. Responding to this claim Ukrainian activists stressed that the position of conservatives does not stem from European ideas of statehood and nations. There were evidences of progress based on recognition by State of language diversity and use of native languages in the primary education. Thus for conservatives the issue of «Russian language» was contraversive since it was on one hand a tool for education and culture, and on the other hand, «Ukrainian» (Little Russian) was a regional language.
