K FINANČNÍ SÍLE ŠKOLSKÝCH SPOLKŮ V ČESKÝCH ZEMÍCH. ÚSTŘEDNÍ MATICE ŠKOLSKÁ A DEUTSCHER SCHULVEREIN PŘED PRVNÍ SVĚTOVOU VÁLKOU VE SROVNÁVACÍ PERSPEKTIVĚ (1880–1914)
FINANCIAL STRENGTH OF SCHOOL ASSOCIATIONS IN THE BOHEMIAN LANDS. THE ÚSTŘEDNÍ MATICE ŠKOLSKÁ AND DEUTSCHER SCHULVEREIN BEFORE WORLD WAR I IN A COMPARATIVE PERSPECTIVE (1880–1914)

Summary/Abstract: The study deals with the issue of school associations financing, especially in the case of German Deutscher Schulverein (DSV), with the seat in Vienna, and Czech Ústřední Matice školská (ÚMŠ) with the seat in Prague, that were, at least in terms of size, the most important national-defensive associations in Cisleithania whose goal was to build and maintain minority schools in territories where these schools could not be established and run from public funds. The analysis of accounting statements from the beginnings of the associations to the outbreak of World War I (1880–1914) is supposed to show which were the main ways of getting financial support that these school associations used for financing their activities, mostly in building minority schools. Both school associations were largely dependent on the developed civil society and on the social life. Due to limited subventions, that were for DSV dramatically lower than those for ÚMŠ, the financing of school associations was provided mostly from private funds, through the members’ fees, donations and bequests. The organization of public fund-raising campaigns and profits from cultural events were of no lesser importance. Apart from this, both school associations were also active in business by manufacturing of associational products, however, it was also important, in which way they dealt with the association capital. Despite all forms of ideological support the DSV got from the German Reich, it is obvious that, on the central level, the financial aid did not represent large amounts and, according to official figures, the German subventions were even lower than the support the ÚMŠ received from American Czechs. The analysis of the accounting statements shows that the position of the Ústřední Matice školská, unlike the prevailing image, was strong and in many aspects even more advantageous that the position of its bigger counterpart in Vienna.

• Details
• Contents