Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1853-10-28
II. E.
Education in Russia

Very little is known in this country of the
habits feelings, and state of civilization of the
Russians. We are accustomed to consider them
a benighted nation of slaves, inhabiting coun-
try into which the schoolmastcr has not yet pene-
trated but the following statistical details,
drawn from reliable sources, may perhaps give
our readers different impression, or at least
enable them to form some idea of the actual state
of public instruction in the empire ofthe Gar.
There are appcrtaining to the department. of
the Minister of Public Instruction 6 UNIVERSE
ties, ! normal school, 3 lyceums, n gymnasia,
433 district school, ,0GS town schools and 500
private schools in all 2,8l0 establishments for
education, under the care of ,594 teachers, and
containing lis, ,327 students. This is in Russia
proper. Russian Poland has besides, / $50
schools Of various kinds, frequented by s4.5S4
students, 1S3 of which private institutions :
and in the Caucasus are no less than IS schools,
s Of which are private, with 237 teachers and
1902 students.
There are q rhetorical semnarics, belonging
TO the Greek church, with - teachers and POI
students IA of the Armenian doctrine, with 45
teachers and 728 students s teachers and 669
students in the Lutheran establishment and IL
Mohammcdan schools, ofwhich are ofthe Shute
order and of the Sannitc persuasion, instructing
in all $50 students.
There are 81 military colleges, all of which
are under the direction of the heir apparent, the
Grand Duke Caesar Alexander. They super
intended by S65 professors, and are frequented by
5000 students.
In addition there are ten naval schools, with
1920 students under the charge of 337 teachers.
The Minister of the Finances has S5 schools
belonging to his department. He employs 461
teachers and instructs 9,779 students.
The foundations of the Empress Mary are 40
in number-30 schools for girls, with esq tuto-
rcsscs and 5,877 pupils, and 10 for boys, with so
masters and ,93S pupils.
There are two schools of civil engineering, with
IS professors and 416 students three law schools
with 93 professors and sol students, and three
schools appertaining to the Post n.sGscc Depart
ment, with 90 ,'r.,eettssors and 5Si students and
six institutions under the direction Of the Secre-
ia-y VI State with 90 professors and 99S student.
These are all, probably, intended TO fit young
men for official life. We must not forget in
stitution devoted to the teaching ofthe oriental
languages, with so professors and 207 students.
There are % agricultural schools, with ia
teachers and ,591 students and 2,696 village
schools in the domain of the crown, employin g
2,7s3 teachers, and giving instruction to 14,064
males and ,S43 females.
Thus, it appears that in Russia 257 ,597 young
persons are receiving instruction of some kind,
from IA ,57T teachers-at the rate of one teacher
to II 1-2 pupils-a very favorable proportion to
the student. The population of Russia proper
NAV be set down at about 55, 900 900, that
only one individual in 900 receives the benefits o
instruction. Thiss small proportion compared
with the United States, where, occording to the
of one in every five free persons, are receiving
instruction from lis, 600 teachersin nearly 100,
600 schools and colleges. Nevertheless, 250,00(
we'll educated young persons, dispersed each yeal
in the different quarters of that huge empire
cannot fail to gradually leave there mark upoi
the national character, in good time.
/ We know more about the quantity than tn
| quality of these schools, Russian publicist
have seldom anything to say on the subject
but it is generally admitted that the milItar.
institutions are of the highest order. The agri
cultural school of the imperial demain is said t.
be admirably managed, and is under the imme
date supervision of Nicholas. $50 peasants ar
thoroughly instructed in theoretical and practica
cultivation and are then sent to model farms II
various parts of the country, to set reforming
example to the neighborhood. The tuition last
four years and is divided into three periods. Il