Historical experience: teaching at the Tambov Seminary in the 1870–1880s

Abstract

The streamlining history of the educational process in the Tambov Governorate should be attributed to the end of the 18th century, according to the decree of 1798. However, this did not lead to the religious schools improvement. In this connection, at the beginning of the 19th century, reforms of the spiritual and educational system of seminaries were carried out. As a result of the reform, the Tambov Seminary, which preserved the best traditions of the pre-reform school, received a qualitative update. However, there were still unresolved issues in the educational process. The methods of teaching suffered, there was a shortage of trained personnel, material provision and home appliance of the seminary. All these issues were to be resolved in the second half of the 19th century. Therefore, we reveal the life period of the seminary of 1870–1880. Foundations of a new educational system in the Tambov Seminary were laid during this period. Education was still specifically theological; the range of theological subjects increased. At the same time, the study of general subjects, classical languages, and church singing was deepened. All this developed the mental capacity of students, expanded their spiritual needs, guaranteed the training of highly educated and responsible clergy and other workers on the field of spiritual enlightenment and public education. However, by bringing its educational system in line with the general standard, the Tambov Seminary lost its missionary focus, ceasing studying the languages of other peoples living in the Tambov Governorate.