New-York tribune., 1902-08-25
RURAL SCHOOLS IN RUSSIA

whiIs children in America are preparing for the
opening OF their comfortable public schools. young
Russians cannot entertain similar agreeable sx-
pectatious even IL the recent official report about
the school system in Russia did conceal part OF
that systems worst aspects. A general reorsani-
cation of the public instruction ordered a few
months ago by the imperial government. and nu-
merous commissions Of inquest have been iost-
tuted Their work OF investigation was relatively
easy referred 10 schools situated In towns.
but IL became very difficult when information had
to be collected about the schools in the country
No official was anxious TO proceed 10 villages lost
IN the steppes the forests OF the swamps. Still
some persons devoted TO the cause OF popular In
struction. especially VI. Ponomarer. Inspector OF
primary schools. have undertaken journeys more
fatigung than explorations In Thioet OF Patagonia
The report OF NJ Ponomarer in effect Is that In
Russian villages the shepherd Is happier than the
male teacher latter happier than the female
teacher. The moujik considers the teacher man
who lives at his expense. and he pays him less
than the shepherd When snow has fallen and the
boys are without anything to do. being unable
OF the winter be OF hedp TO their parents
the latter think of education An outchiteI'
or schoomaser is hired by the villagers. who agree
to feed and to pay him. The price varies from 10
to so rubes go S4O for the whole winter. which
is very long in Russia AS 70 the food IL Is not
good as that of the shepherd: each family whose
children frequent school feeds in its turn the
schoolmaster. The school building is miserable
hut often contiguous to the house OF the rloujik.
where pigs. hens and cows are fed twice day
1t is business OF the teacher TO keep his school
clean says VI. Ponomaref in his official report
There is no ventilation: at the approach OF the cold
weather all windows are hermeticaIy closed with
CLAW or s!azier's putty. The mOujik cannot under
stand that anything should be opened in winter
Tine In regard to the heating il is quite priuni-
tive Each scholar is bound TO bring some pieces
of wood TO heat the school When it is freezing too
hard the pupils come. and the teacher. being
compelled 10 remain until the evening enveops
himself his touloUpe. OF sheepskn. and stays mo-
tionless In a corner OF the "khata, or school hut.
Such is the custom in poor viiages7 In the rich
villages the schoolmaSter, instead OF being mar
tyr becomes a tyrant He strikes the pupils bru-
tally. tears of their and pulls their hair and
breaks their teeth, for he is almost continu-
aIIy drunk The Official report instances many
cases In which children were violently thrown
on the ground and bruised bv the teachers
feet to such q point that blood gus he'd out fr--s
their noses and mouths Put what Is most extra
Ordinary saws NJ Ponomareff, is that those queer
schOoImasters fntrust the task OF teaching 10 the
hest srhoIars These are called the hrst group.
or ''the professors" and they are not above eight
or ten wears of age. While they try 10 teach their
little comrades the schOolmaster sits down TO
drink in the next "kabakA 80. -,
The ST Petersburg correspondenee, which gives
This SUMMARY of NJ Ponomaref'S report. says that
on receiving 1t the Minister OF Public INSTRUCTION
sent nIIn,erous commissioners 20 run over, tncos-
nito averT part OF Russia at the approach Of the
wtnrsr with a mission to remedy the ev1 and
,fsbr he