Male and female teachers as initiators of cultural activities in Zadar and Dalmatia in the 19th century

Abstract

This paper aims to point out the role of teachers in the social and cultural life of Zadar and Dalmatia in the 19th century, which is not known well enough because teaching had always been in the shadow of politics, and it dealt with it only during major social and national movements. Teachers were seldom the initiators and leaders of such activities, and the real power was in the hands of state and church structures that were their immediate superiors. Therefore, teachers' influence was manifested mostly at the micro-level and with their profession. Only in the seventies of the 19th century did they become more actively involved in social events, which could be considered as the beginning of teachers' organization in Dalmatia and intensifying connections with teachers from mainland Croatia. They increasingly wrote about life and events in their environment and published their writing in the professional and political press. They participated in the work of professional bodies that published reports and contributions of their members, giving suggestions for improving the teaching process and methodology, as well as the community's cultural life. The paper also points to teachers' role in the organization of cultural events, exhibitions, stage and music performances, art workshops, workshops for handicrafts of girls and boys, courses for adults, and others.