Publication: Amerikalı misyonerlerin Osmanlı Anadolusu’ndaki eğitim faaliyetleri (1820-1900) ve bunun Osmanlı toplum yapısına etkileri
Abstract
Osmanlı Devleti döneminde Anadolu’da faaliyette bulunmuş olan Amerikan okulları, ülkemizin eğitim tarihinde göz ardı edilmesi mümkün olmayan bir olgudur. Bu olgunun din eğitimi tarihimizdeki iz düşümü ise ikinci aşamada incelenmesi gereken bir konudur. Bu alanda yapılacak araştırmalardan elde edilen veriler sayesinde modern eğitim tarihimizin alt yapısı daha net bir şekilde belirlenirken, din eğitimi anlayışımız ve ilgili kurumlarımızın Amerikan eğitiminden ne derece etkilendikleri gün yüzüne çıkarılmış olacaktır. Çalışmamız dört bölümden oluşmaktadır. Birinci bölümde Amerikalı misyonerlerin, karşılaştıkları Osmanlı toplumunu nasıl değerlendirdikleri ele alındı. Bu bölümün amacı, misyonerlerin eğitim felsefelerini ve müfredatlarını belirlemede etkili olan toplumsal arka planı tesbit etmekti. Nitekim yapılan saha araştırmaları neticesinde Osmanlı gayrı müslimlerinin olumlu bir yaşam sürmedikleri ortaya çıktı. Kilise ve din anlayışlarından aile kurumuna ve günlük yaşayışa kadar her alanda gerçek Hıristiyanlıktan uzaklaşılmıştı. Ahlak, kimlik, eğitim, kadın ve adabı muaşeret konularında hiç de iç açıcı bir durumda değillerdi. O halde ilk önce gerek halktan kişilere gerek yeni nesillere gerçek din ve onun getirdiği aydınlık dünya öğretilmeliydi. Misyonerlerin bu bağlamda gerçekleştirdikleri faaliyetler incelendi. İkinci bölümün konusu, misyonerlerin halk kitlelerine ve Hıristiyan din adamlarına yönelik tebliğ ve telkinleridir. Bunlar “ev, çarşı, han, fuar merkezli din eğitimi”, “kitap dağıtımı”, “okuma yazma seferberliği”, “Amerikan teknolojisinin din eğitiminde kullanılması” başlıkları altında ele alınmaktadır. Buradaki amaç, misyonerlerin yalnızca okul çatısı altında eğitimle yetinmediklerini, ulaşabildikleri her yerleşim yerinde yetişkin insan eğitimine ve onların dinî anlayışlarını/ yaşantılarını değiştirmeye gayret ettiklerini gündeme getirmektir. Misyonerler Osmanlı Anadolusu’nda öncelikle ilahiyat okulları kurdular, ardından yüksek okullar ve kolejler tesis ettiler. Bu okulların kuruluş amaçları, tarihçeleri, müfredatları, öğretmenleri ve öğrenci modelleri bize Protestan değerlerinin bahsedilen coğrafyada nasıl yayıldığını göstermektedir. O halde Protestan tebeasının kimliğinin araştırılması gerekmektedir. Buna göre onlar eski kiliseyi ve öğretilerini reddettiler; Batılı hayat tarzını benimsediler. Hem daha ileri eğitim görmek ve hem de daha iyi şartlarda yaşamak için Amerika’ya göç edenlere de rastlanmaktadır.
The American schools of education had in operation in the Ottoman Anatolia is a phenomenon that is not possible to ignore. The second stage of this case projection of our history of religious education is an issue to be examined. Thanks to the data obtained from research in this area on one hand the infrastructure of the modern history of education will be more clearly identified, and our understanding of religious education and related institutions are affected by how the American education will bring to light. The study consists of four parts. In the first section was discussed how the American missionaries evaluated the Ottoman society which they faced. Its aim was to determine the social background of the missionary educational philosophies and curricula that they have been effected. As a result of field researches in the life of the Ottoman subjects it was appeared that they did not lead a positive life. In every area from the church and religion understanding to institution of the family and daily life everybody have been alienated from Christianity. Some issues such as morality, identity, education, women, and manners they were not cheering at all. Then it must have been learned true religion and its beauties to the new generations both commoners and youth .Missionary activities were examined in this context. The subject of the second section is the notification and suggestions of the American missionaries to the masses and Christian clergy. Thus they are discussed under the headings, “home, marketplace, inn, fair-centered religious education”, “ literacy campaignes”, “the use of American technology in the religious education.” The missionaries did not stop the education just under the roof of the school, but reach every residential area and adult people they have tried to change their religious lives and understandings. Firstly they established theological schools, then high schools and colleges in Ottoman Anatolia. The aim of their organizations, histories and curriculums, teachers and models of students of these schools shows us how spread the Protestant values through mentioned geography. It must be searched then the identity of the new Protestant subject. Accordingly they have recejted the old churh and its teachings; adopted the Western life style. The new Ermenian and Greek female model emerged. They have emigrated to America both further education and live in beter conditions.
The American schools of education had in operation in the Ottoman Anatolia is a phenomenon that is not possible to ignore. The second stage of this case projection of our history of religious education is an issue to be examined. Thanks to the data obtained from research in this area on one hand the infrastructure of the modern history of education will be more clearly identified, and our understanding of religious education and related institutions are affected by how the American education will bring to light. The study consists of four parts. In the first section was discussed how the American missionaries evaluated the Ottoman society which they faced. Its aim was to determine the social background of the missionary educational philosophies and curricula that they have been effected. As a result of field researches in the life of the Ottoman subjects it was appeared that they did not lead a positive life. In every area from the church and religion understanding to institution of the family and daily life everybody have been alienated from Christianity. Some issues such as morality, identity, education, women, and manners they were not cheering at all. Then it must have been learned true religion and its beauties to the new generations both commoners and youth .Missionary activities were examined in this context. The subject of the second section is the notification and suggestions of the American missionaries to the masses and Christian clergy. Thus they are discussed under the headings, “home, marketplace, inn, fair-centered religious education”, “ literacy campaignes”, “the use of American technology in the religious education.” The missionaries did not stop the education just under the roof of the school, but reach every residential area and adult people they have tried to change their religious lives and understandings. Firstly they established theological schools, then high schools and colleges in Ottoman Anatolia. The aim of their organizations, histories and curriculums, teachers and models of students of these schools shows us how spread the Protestant values through mentioned geography. It must be searched then the identity of the new Protestant subject. Accordingly they have recejted the old churh and its teachings; adopted the Western life style. The new Ermenian and Greek female model emerged. They have emigrated to America both further education and live in beter conditions.