“Physically defective children” and their care in the first third of the 20th century: the regional aspect

We systematically study the practice of social protection of children with hearing and vision disabilities, as well as other categories of “physically defective” children and adolescents in the Tambov Governorate in the first third of the 20th century. On the basis of a wide range of primary materials, first of all, periodicals, archival sources, memories, statistical data, various little-known aspects of the claimed scientific problem were studied. We summarize the domestic and foreign experience of studying the social security system of “special” children in provincial Russia. The variants of social care for children with disabilities, including in the context of charitable activities, have been clarified. The legal aspects of the regulation of physical and social defectiveness during the Soviet period are specially considered. The main stages of the charitable and public initiative to support children with disabilities are identified. Attention is drawn to the impact of the First World War of 1914-1918, revolutionary upheavals, Civil War, regional specificity and the specific historical manifestations of the care of these “special” children at the level of a particular region - Tambov Governorate. The influence of regional trends on education and training, as well as the subsequent socialization of children with hearing and vision disabilities is clarified. It is proved that the new economic policy has had a powerful negative impact on the entire system of social security of orphans, children’s homes, in fact eliminating all the positive developments and experience that has developed in the Tambov Governorate.

defectiveness, socially defective, physically defective children, orphans, children’s care, social protection, custody, regional charity