Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-02-08
EDUCATION IN RUSSIA.
How the Youthful Idea is Taught
Shnnf In the Czar,s nnr,ninior


Shoot in the Cars Dominions.
DR.. Theodore Yetter recently Iectured
in Sever Hall. Harvard College, SAYS the
Boston Journal, on Education in Rus
sia." The longer a man has lived in Rus
STA, the lecturer remarked, the less in
chned he feels to express an opinion on
that country and its methods The edu-
cation of the children of the common peo-
pie differs in one important respect from
that Of the children in countries of cen
trial Europe. The little boy is taught to
lift his hat as he passes a church or to any
priest whom he passes, or to knock his
head upon the marble at the altar. Chill
dTen of noblemen learn more than this GER
emony. The question is often asked how
Russians are such excellent linguists. He
was inclined to deny that they had any
special Unborn characteristics of that ma
ture. The child of one year has a French
nurse, then comes a German goyerness.
and few years later comes an English
one. At 10 or u years he speaks two or
three foreign languages, and only has an
Imperfect knowledge Of his own by con-
versation with grOOms. After that the
knowledge of literature comes as hard to
them as to any nation. At y or Is years
they enter gymnasia or classical schools.
home. At the head OF the system of pub
lie education is the minister of that de-
partment. He, with five or six special
lists, form the highest board in the State.
There are twelve school districts in Rus
STA. The Caucasus and some other parts
of Russia are not included in these
districts, and are still in the
military department. The minister
in each of these districts is repre-
sented by curator who appoints teachers
in the gymnasia and scientific schools,
with the assistance of committees. The
idea of redistricting Russia was started
by Catherine II. The present administra-
ton was introduced under Alexander II.
Yet, as stated by one of the leading states
men, if Russia had only one hundredth
part Of the schools decreed by legislation
she would be perfectly happy. For a long
time the nobility were satisfied with the
polish gained by foreign travel, and there
fore did not care to help on the educa-
tional movements. In 1885 the clergy be-
gan to take hold of the schools without
success. In 1917 we find in the whole
empire only $500 schools, 2,700 teach
ers and $4,000 pupils. In 1871,
however, there was one pupil out of
one hundred inhabitants. The common
schools on the whole are not very success
ful, partly on account of having for teach
ers superannuated soldiers or suspended
clergymen. Even Tartars are, in elemen-
tary knowledge, far ahead of native Rus
slams. The lecturer went into a discus
sion OF the gymnasla in detail, saying that
they fit in classical learning to an extent
equal to that required for admission to the
sophomore class of the better American
colleges. Then there are various so-called
Latin schools, one being founded in Mos
COW in the seventeenth century. The great
ttult OF the system of education is that
classical education has been forced upon
the people, though probably it is more
fitted to do away with the superficiality
Of Russian training than any other sys-
tenn. The objection to it, however, is that
actual force has been used to introduce a
thorough classical training, and that has
induced a distaste Of the classicals. A
very thorough explanation was then given
OF the scope of the universities, of which
there are nlne-each, except Odessa. hay
ing an attendance of over 800. At Mos
COW there are now 1900 students, among
them $50 law and $50 medical students:
$50 in that university do not pay the tut
ton, which is 100 rubes. The
amount of 100000 rubles is given in
scholarships. Moscow was founded
in 1755. Every able-bOdied Russian is
obliged to serve six years in the army and
to be ready to serve for nine years after
that. Graduates of the sixth year of the
gymnasium are required to serve six
months, while anyone who has taken the
academic degree only has to serve three
months, so that there is a manifest ad-
vantage in joining the higher Institutions
The doctors degree at the university is
rarely attained before the age of 80, and
often after ten years of lecturing, and re-
presents much original investigations