Holidays and Evenings in the Gymnasiums and Progymnasiums of the Tomsk Province in the Second Half of the 19th — Early of the 20th Century

Abstract

Modernization processes in Russia in the second half of the 19th — early of the 20th centuries led to significant changes in the education system. This was also evident in the daily life of secondary educational institutions: gymnasiums and progymnasiums. Holidays and evenings were an important part of the daily life of high schools during this period. The program of holidays, as a rule, they included a solemn part, often prayers, performances, reading poems, singing, performing musical works and distributing awards for academic success. Usually the holidays and evenings ended in an informal part, consisting of a treat, sometimes there could be dancing. Evenings in educational institutions were organized for the purpose of communication and entertainment and were less formal in nature. When arranging evenings and holidays, there could be certain difficulties. For financial help, they had to turn to benefactors, in the role of which merchants most often acted. Events could be organized jointly by different educational institutions, including gymnasiums and real schools. Holidays and evenings organized in educational institutions of secondary education (gymnasiums and progymnasiums) performed educational and socializing functions.
 The expanding practice of their implementation was a consequence of the modernization processes in the field of education of the Russian Empire in the second half of the 19th — early of the 20th centuries.