New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-01-18
RUSSIAN SCHOOL REFORM.
TO IMPROVE A SYSTEM THAT NOW LEADS

81. Petersburg, December "a, 1890.
The population of St. Petersburg in the year
1888 exceeded 100000; therefore, now it may
safely be classed as a city of well-ngh 100000
inhabitants. Besides, it certainly is cOsmopoli'
city, whose pulse beats faithfully in response
TO every motion in the social and political life
of the rest of Europe. In it tile German. Finn
French, and Scandinavian elements hold their
own in the order named "Soccty" is divided
and subdivided in numberless circles and coteries
some of which rarely hear OF the existence Of
some of the other circles though each goes to
form the capitals society; most of such circles
taking their cue from the social events booked
at the Imperial Court From all this it would
seem that st. Petersburg is prominently metro
potan city, the very cOmponents Of whose pop
ulation exclude the possibility of any subject of
engroSsing common interest. save, perhaps, the
0verhanging of some dire disaster threatening all
the citizens alike No disaster appears to threaten
the modern Russian capital Of the present time.
There is no foreign foe that threatens to gather
its mighty armies and to invade the country.
Yet conversation in the capital is running so
much on the same topic for weeks past that the
whole thing would he apt to strike outside
observer as utterly provincial. Wherever you go
be it the house of high or low Government en-
ploye lawyer statesman. an engineer, ply
son in the capital, officer Of the army, priest
or merchant provided it only he an educated
Russian famiy-On calling at any house you
will everywhere find the self-samc discussion
about the impending revision OF the programmes
OF the Russian gymnasia: a measure that means
nothing less than the scvcring of the heavy chains
that have held the school population of the whole
Empire in bondage for the last eighteen wears
1t is n well-knOwn tact that there are few, if
any, large cities in the world whore educated par
entS manage to pay such constant attention TO
the studies of their children as they do in St.
Petersburg. where a struggle has TO be kept up in
order 10 counteract the dcnilitatng effects of en-
ccSsve studies on the constitutions of growing
children. Thus, it is not 20 be wondered at that
the resolve of the Government to revise the pro-
gramme with a view TO allcviating the hard school
work of the children has set the entire Russian
Captal-we may truly say the whole Of Russia
to discussing educational topics with the earnest
ness of Ncw-Englald town on the eve of a local
school election.
The Importance Of the oymnaSia cannot he
over-estmated though. since no less than three.
quarters Of all the educated Russian men pass
through these schools and about one.half of all
the educated women Still one must have lived
IN Russia 10 know at what cost education is ac-
CURED in that country to appreciate the reason
oil thls allahsorbnc interest of large city popula-
ton in mere school matters. To begin with. we
have to bear in mind strange feature of the
Russian character. Az overwhelming majority OF
the Russian people is still perfectly c0ntentcd TO
live in complete illeracy: vet as soon as young
person masters the three RS" and gets to under
stand what learning is. he is scarcely ever salts
fed 10 stop half way. 30 his standing in life
ever 50 low. he still will struggle to reach the
university. and it is hard 70 find a pupil in any
gymnasia that would expect TO Save off study
on graduating from this kind of school which
stands midway between American grammar
school and a college. To tell the truth. no pupil
would derive any help IN life from the education
he receives in a Crown gymnasium unless hc
COOS on studying for folr or FIVE years more IN
university in some special college.
Ever since The .-ear 49,? the Russian Govern.
mcnt has labored under the prcconceivcd notion
that II was the gymnasa, with a scientific course Of
study-such course as prevailed in Russian
schools in the sNties-that bred liberal thought
and even NihiliSm, while classical studies must
necessarily foster devotion to mOnarchical insti-
tutons. Still the people "pervcrSclv perscvered'
in their fondncss for scientific sudi and research
Seeing this, the Government dccrecl than only
such young mcH graduates from the classical
symnasia can freely enter the universities what
ever the faculty they may choose; while graduates
of scientific schools. Of however high standing,
must submit 10 a strict entrance examination,
and even if they succeeded in mastering all the
required classical studies, sill they can be adj
ai''ol To the university only in case Of vacancy
after til admission Of all the applicants from elias
steal schools, he the latter high or low in their
standing. Since there are only ten universities
in Russia having altogether room for no more
hon I nd no
more than 400 rImnosid, graduating over 10000
pupils yearly. the above restriction shuts the uni
vcrsity doors against all the scientists Or as
they are called in Russia. "realSts" most efiec
lively. Such pupils OF the classical gymnasia as
were unable To stand twelve hours of Greek and
Latin weekly. and many hours study of the
classics AT home. were not only excluded from all
higher education but in consequence of such
exclusive training usually found ;heD in
capacts I'D from any practical work ny means
OF hich tc support themselves
The Russian Government frankly declared some
years ago that its intention is To make access 10
the universities more difficult, in order 10 reduce
the number of the educated "proletares = which
threaten to undermine the foundation of State
and society. Now after years Of strict classcism
the number of that eternal bugaboo" of the Gov
eminent, the educated proletaires, may have de-
creased or may Motive have no means of know
ing: but the number OF disalected young men,
incapacitated from turning out any work, has
steadily grown larger and larger of late years and
the grumblng OF parents has become louder and
louder so that now even the Government has had
To reconsider its course and announce that it Is
going to see that the studies in the gymnasa are
lightened and varied not to I've entirely one
sided, as they formerly were.
1t is high time such course should be
adopted by the Government in It's own defence.
Lack of space precudes me from entering here in
any detailed description of the enormity of work
imposed on the children of Russia during their
school year, and of the hard struggle for bare en-
istencc that university students have TO undergo.
But it is hard fact that in Russia the majority Of