Dynamics of the social demand for education among the Mordovian peasantry in the second half of the 19th - beginning of the 20th century

The increased demand for education among peasantry in the second half of the 19th - beginning of the 20th century is regarded in this article. The author proves that education, on one hand, was a means to a social adaptation for peasants and on the other hand it had caused the transformation of peasant mentality that is why during the above period the search for optimal directions and means of education was made.