Reading Practices of Kyiv Gymnasium Students in the Late 19th – Early 20th Centuries in the Context of Daily Life

Abstract

The article presents a comprehensive historical reconstruction and systematic analysis of the extracurricular time of students at boys’ gymnasiums in Kyiv in the late 19^th – early 20^th centuries, specifically focusing on their daily reading habits. The relevance of this study stems from the insufficient coverage in Ukrainian historiography of the daily lives of gymnasium students, particularly their reading practices and leisure activities, as important components of society’s sociocultural development. The historical experience of the functioning of gymnasiums, the organization of students’ leisure time, and reading practices allows for a deeper understanding of the origins of educational traditions, the peculiarities of the formation of youth intellectual culture, and the role of books in personal development.

The scientific novelty of this study lies in a comprehensive analysis of the daily lives of students at Kyiv gymnasiums through the lens of educational, cultural, and leisure practices. This work represents the first comprehensive study in historiography of the daily lives of Kyiv gymnasium students, taking into account the specific features of their reading culture. The reading practices and range of literary preferences of students at Kyiv’s boys’ gymnasiums have been comprehensively studied; the role of university, school, and public libraries in shaping the students’ intellectual environment has been analyzed; the peculiarities of organizing students’ leisure time, particularly literary evenings, readings, and student presentations, have been highlighted; the influence of fiction, popular science, and banned literature on the formation of the worldview of young students has been identified.

This study provides a detailed analysis of the characteristics of students’ reading interests and literary preferences. It examines the role of libraries, literary readings, and extracurricular activities in shaping the worldview of high school students. The study also explores the impact of administrative oversight and the educational system on students’ leisure time. The significance of book culture among Kyiv gymnasium students is highlighted.