M.N. Katkov as the director of the Lyceum of Crown Prince Nicholas

In the article, the activity of M.N. Katkov, an authoritative Russian journalist, the editor-publisher of the Moskovskie Vedomosti newspaper and the Russkiy Vestnik magazine, as the director of the Lyceum of Crown Prince Nicholas is considered; his contribution to the foundation and development of this educational institution is analysed. The Lyceum was established by M.N. Katkov in 1868 to prove the need and usefulness of the introduction in Russian gymnasiums of a classical education system which, according to him, most promoted the formation of school children's intelligence and culture. The Lyceum was not only to give fundamental education, but also to form the intellectual elite of Russia: highly educated, devoted to the throne and the Homeland, capable to direct the development of the country in an evolutionary way. Katkov sought to save the new educational institution from any bureaucratic control from official departments and first of all from the Ministry of National Education. Training in the Lyceum of Crown Prince Nicholas was based on the best domestic and foreign educational experience. It had no state regulation; there was an individual approach to each child. The educational institution enjoyed support and trust of the educated society of the capital; both supporters and opponents of a classical education system considered the Lyceum a model educational institution. The capital of the educational institution consisted of voluntary charitable public donations and tuition fees. Later a government subsidy was allocated to the Lyceum, which became the reason M.N. Katkov was accused of personal interest and of expenditure of the funds given to the Lyceum for his own needs. The analysis of documentary sources proved that these accusations were unfair. The educational and financial activities of the Lyceum were based on the principle of openness and publicity: all the money was strictly accounted and was subject to checks from supervisory authorities. Reports on the financial activity of the Lyceum were annually published in the Moskovskie Vedomosti newspaper. The analysis of documents confirms that M.N. Katkov did not pursue commercial benefit, considered working in the Lyceum as public work and often gave his own money to the educational institution. It is determined that M.N. Katkov responsibly executed his duties of the director of the Lyceum and paid much attention to their academic and patriotic education, thanks to which a whole group of state and public figures of Russia graduated from the Lyceum. The high rank of the privy councilor and the state awards M.N. Katkov received as the director of the Lyceum were quite a well-deserved reward for the "fruitful activity in the teaching and educational field".

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