THE ROLE OF SIBERIAN CITY GOVERNMENTS IN EXPANDING THE AVALABILITY OF EDUCATION TO THE POPULATION (70-90S OF THE 19TH CENTURY)
Introduction. This article is devoted to the analysis of various aspects of development of the availability of education for the population in the cities of the Russian Empire (on the example of Siberian provinces) in the second half of the nineteenth century for the purpose of revealing the role of municipalities in this process. Materials and Methods. The study is based on the historical-genetic method and the method of analysis of historical sources. The effectiveness of municipalities in the development of availability of education is estimated following the principle of the systematic approach, was determined by the general vectors of development of a particular city, its budgetary capabilities, the social composition of member of the town council, the population (which means the need for educational institutions), charity citizens, the degree of state participation in financing educational institutions and the capacity of “city fathers” to non-standard, flexible approaches to fundraising and organization of control over the general state of the educational business was also of certain importance. Results. The study identifies such a little-known activity of city governments as stimulating various forms of charity through economic policy, emphasizes not only the altruistic component of acts of charity, but also hidden personal motives determined by the nature of the era. Success in developing the accessibility of education became possible thanks to the activities of city governments, philanthropists, invisible events to motivate citizens; as well as general government policies. Conclusions. The experience of the past clearly shows the presence of a tendency: the degree of accessibility of education is determined by goal-setting on the part of power institutions (whether it is the state or city government). The presence or absence of a goal implies everything else: the result or futility of efforts. A clearly defined goal will always allow the systematic use of a variety of mechanisms for its implementation.