The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1925-11-25
SOVIET SCHOOLS
TRAINING LABOR
TO run SOCIETY
New IntelligentsiaC Comes
from Workers

KHARKOV, Russia (FP) uni
versities train the generals and other
high officers who command the affairs
of modern society. 1.-THE workers ever
expect to take control of the world
they must have their leaders trained
in the universities"
This is the educational proposition
laid down by Jean Riappo, chairman
of the higher education committee Of
the Ukraine. Riappp supports his
contention by pointing out that in
czarist days there were three kinds
of schools in Russia, the common
schools for the children Of workers
and peasants, the high schools for the
children Of the little business men and
the universities and, technical schools
for the aristocracy and the masters
of industry. This system produced
an ignorant working class and high
ly trained ruling class Of landlords
and capitalists.
| In 1894 the universities and tech
meal schools of Russia contained ga
per cent aristocrats and children Of
the big business men, 80 per cent
children of small business men, a.
per cent children of peasants (who
made up over four-ffths Of Russia)
and 2 per cent of children Of the
workers.
Universities gave the training to
! the class in power" Riappo argues,
land this training was great source
Of strength to the Russian rulers. The
universities were a big element in
maintaining czarist dictatorship"
Then came the revolutions Of 1917.
By 1918 there were no aristocrats left
in the universities, but in their places
the children of the new-rich class of
business men made up the great body
Of university students. In 1920, 70
per cent of all Russian university stu
dents belonged in this class.
Here was a real danger. The work
ers and peasants of Russia had taken
possession of the economic machin-
cry and of the government, but the
training for the exercise of power was
being given not to the children Of
workers and peasants, but to the sons
and daughters of business men. We
were threatened with the same dam
ger that overlook Germany dictat-
orship Of the new-rich business class"
Riappo continued: ;" We had to act
quickly. Workers we're not ready to
enter the universities. They could not
get ready, officially, aSpthey had never
gone even through The elementary
| schools. So we created the workers
I faculties (rabfacs); sent the men
there direct from the factories and in
: or years had them ready for the
university courses. Some Of these
, factory workers did their hours in
} the shop and then did or more hours
? in school, five evenings a week. In
) other cases their unions paid their
| way through the rabfacs ara the men
r gave full time to study.
"At the same time we built up a
system of technical schools in the
factories and in the Industrial centers.
Today, in the Ukraine, 81 per cent of
r the students in these technical schools
' are the children of workers and peas.
: ants.
Between the rabfacs and these
: technical schools, we have solved our
: university problem. In 1920 there
? were only few more children OF
) workers and peasants in the universe.
, ties than there were in 1917. By
} 1924. "a per cent of the university
t students were from peasant families
: and is per cent from workers fam
, lilies. In 1925, workers and peasants
made up IS per cent of the university
student body. This fall the per cent is
} about 65 per cent.
} There are three landmarks" Ri
: apo concluded. "Aristocrats, 1914,
ga per cent of university students;
small business mems children, 1920,
, 70 per cent; and in 1926, workers and
> peasants, IS per cent That shows the
! swing of the pendulum. The work
ers and peasants of Russia have TAX
EN- economic and political power.
| Their sons and daughters, in the
technical schools and universities are
: learning the art of using that power
for the benefit of themselves and
their children" IT
Riappo smiled. you, in the United
/ States" he said, accuse us Of being
/ undemocratic in our education. I'm
democratic? Perhaps, but we are al
so wise. We are safeguarding the
workers republic by seeing that the
workers get the training necessary to
protect their own Interests. That
means university education and we
propose that the workers keep what
they have gained byslearning how to
| use their power efficiently"
RafueoI &C DoIo -