AT THE ORIGINS OF PUBLIC EDUCATION SYSTEM IN MOSCOW IN THE REIGN OF CATHERINE II: PRIVATE AND STATE EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS

In the second half of the 18th century Catherine II's government undertook urban renewal reform, during which cities acquired new features enabling them to proper execute its functions. Establishing of public education system was believed to be one of the key aspects of the project and an obligatory part of city infrastructure. Regional authorities, first of all, the governor general, were in charge of its implementation. They relied upon local self-government bodies, merchant's corporation as well as the aid of the state. Moscow - big and densely populated city represented a major challenge for its implementation. Here the introducing of an education system met with constant slowdown which caused discontent of the empress Catherine II who demanded explanation of the events. Thanks to the correspondence preserved in archive we can trace the process of establishing education system in the city at early stages of reform. Conducted inspection showed general conditions of education authorities including private educational institutions which provided a real competition to "state" schools. Reports contain detailed information on training programs, about the state of infrastructure and search of sources for financing of educational reform. The lack of sufficient amount of buildings was one of the main problems preventing spreading of schools. And, what is more, buildings suitable for pupils' accommodation. Materials of correspondence give us an idea about methods by which the authorities solved problems of schools establishment, financing sources, as well as about number of pupils in the city of Moscow and availability of schools in the cities of the Moscow province.