Material security of educational institutions of the Kuban region in the second half of 19th - early 20th centuries

Using various historical sources, issues of the material security of educational institutions of the Kuban region in the second half of the 19th - early 20th centuries are revealed in the paper. The problems that the newly-educated schools have encountered are highlighted: the lack of their own building, the deficit of school furniture - classrooms, blackboards, a table and chair for the teacher, the scarce provision of teaching materials, and the lack of uniform textbooks. The material everyday life of teachers of the Kuban region, which was largely due to the quality of their environment and the size of remuneration for work, is considered. It is emphasized that the project to open primary schools did not provide for their financing by the state, the local authorities decided to raise funds for teachers’ salaries and school maintenance. The material condition of educational institutions was complicated by the fact that it was necessary to convince people of the benefits and the need to improve their security. It was established that until 1906 the governmental authority practically did not allocate funds for the maintenance of the Kuban elementary school. The situation began to change in subsequent years. In 1906 it was allocated 153 805 rubles for the maintenance of primary schools, which amounted to 11 % of all necessary funds. It is concluded that the material everyday life of the school was influenced by the economic conditions for the development of the Kuban region, the traditions and customs of the population, and political decisions made by the state and local authorities.