Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-11-12
Why Russia Leads

The ONCE of Education report on
the Soviet educational system gives
some of the reasons why Russia has
taken the lead in the field Of scientific
research and development. Underlying
such achievements as orbiting satellites
and advanced rocketry is remarkable
story of stepped-up education in the
natural sciences and mathematics in
an era which has seen tragic decline
in American interest in such vital sub
jects. Today, as two Sputniks continue
to circle the earth, we are paying the
penalty for our apathy.
Russian primary, secondary and
higher schools have been putting major
emphasis on the sciences and mathe-
mates in recent years, the Office OF
Education found in a comprehensive
study of the Soviet school program.
The contrast between the Russian ed
ucational system and our own is Strik-
ingly shown in the report The state
begins examining young minds with dif-
ficult subjects at an early age. Algebra
and geometry are begun in the sixth
grade. Trigonometry and an intro
duction to calculus start in the ninth
and tenth grades. typical seventh
grade course includes zoology, physiol-
ogy, history, geography, biology, physics,
chemistry, Russian grammar and
literature, a foreign language
usually English), technical drawing,
physical education and practical shop
work and agriculture. Glasses are held
six days a week.
These are not electives. The state
chooses what subjects the students must
learn, supervises the teaching and dis
tributes the graduates to suit the ma
tons needs. The students which show
special aptitudes for technical subjects
are encouraged to concentrate on those
studies : and they are flguratively
tagged for key roles in military or
industrial research and development.
A typical graduate of Russian Sec
ondary school has passed five-year
courses in physics and biology, four
year course in chemistry, a ten-year
course in mathematics and a one-year
course in astronomy. BY contrast, less
than one-third of American high school
graduates have had year of chemistry,
only one-fourth have studied physics
and about one-Seventh have taken
higher math. The "snap courses" which
some of our college students have found
available for easy graduation credits
simply do not exist in Russia.
OF course, not all phases Of the
Soviet system are worthy of admiration.
Tho P,IScio,o cchooIS ORC Stotn-onorotod
and state controlled and hence are in
doctrination centers for Communist
propaganda There is a secret police
section which regularly spies on teachers
and claSSroomS, to make certain that
the right Zine" is being taught. Cues
tiorfing of this line by students is dis
couraged. In short, there IS no educa-
tional freedom, as we know it, in Russia.
Aside from these defects, however,
there is much that we can learn from
the Office of Education report Ger
tainly the findings make imperative
reappraiSal of our own educational
Standards-with special reference to the
emphasizing of science and mathe-
mates. We must find ways of stimulat-
ing interest by students and teachers in
technical subjects - perhaps through
Federal scholarships as recommended
by Chairman Rabi of President Eisen-
hoWer'S Science Advisory Committee.
For if we continue to let Russia outStrip
us educationally, we certainly will i'm
peril our national security, our prestige
before the world and our own welfare.