Education in the Russian Empire was fundamentally different from the system that existed during the Soviet Union, especially from the current situation. In pre-revolutionary Russia, it was based on borrowing regulations from various European universities. First of all, German. On their basis, pedagogical and scientific certification was carried out. This article will focus on the history of national education and existing types of educational institutions.
How it all began…
Education in the Russian Empire began to develop actively in the XVIII century. This was facilitated by the reforms of Peter I, many of which were aimed at popularizing sciences, teaching compatriots according to Western models.
Formally, the date of formation of the Russian Empire is October 22, 1721. It was on this day that it was proclaimed following the results of the completed Northern War. Peter I by decisionsenators accepted the titles of Father of the Fatherland and Emperor. At the same time, long before the day of the formation of the Russian Empire, fundamental changes began to occur in the educational system.
From the very beginning of the 18th century, it became clear that the learning process was changing radically. First of all, it touched theology. His teaching remained only in diocesan schools for the children of the clergy.
In 1701, a school of navigational and mathematical sciences was founded in Moscow. In the same year, an artillery school was opened, and a little later, an engineering and medical school. Since 1715, the classes of the navigation school were transferred to St. Petersburg, reorganizing them into the Naval Academy. It still exists.
In total, by the year of the formation of the Russian Empire, 42 digital schools were operating in the provinces. They were created by Peter's decree to give basic knowledge. About two thousand students studied there.
During the reign of Anna Ioannovna, the children of soldiers entered garrison schools, and at metallurgical plants the government founded the first mining schools that trained specialists for these enterprises.
In the 1730s, a vicious practice appeared to enroll children in the regiments almost from birth, so that by the age of majority they already had an officer's rank by length of service. Elizabeth reorganized military schools. Issued a decree to expand the network of primary schools. The first gymnasiums appeared in Moscow and Kazan. In 1755, on the initiative of her favorite Count Shuvalov, Moscow University was founded, and two years later the Academy of Arts.
In education inThe Russian Empire in the second half of the 18th century shows two main trends. This is the strengthening of the principle of class and the expansion of the network of educational institutions.
Reform of Catherine II
By 1786, the Empress completed the school reform, which resulted in the approval of the charter of public schools. In each large city, main schools with four classes of education were now to appear, and in county towns - small schools with two classes.
Subject teaching appeared, single dates for the beginning and end of classes were established, and a lesson system was developed. The first curricula and teaching methods began to be drawn up.
An important role in this reform was played by a teacher from Serbia Fedor Ivanovich Jankovic. By the end of the 18th century, up to 70,000 teenagers were studying in 550 schools.
Changes under Alexander I
At the beginning of the 19th century, general education gymnasiums existed only in Moscow, St. Petersburg and Kazan. At the same time, many specialized educational institutions of various types operated.
In 1802, the Ministry of Public Education was founded, which issued a new regulation on the organization of educational institutions. The new principles proclaimed free education in the Russian Empire at the lower levels, classlessness and continuity of curricula.
All existing educational institutions were divided into four types. The first included parish schools, which replaced the small folk ones. The second included county schools, the third - gymnasiums or provincial, and the fourth -universities.
Even at the beginning of the reign of Alexander I, six universities were opened. The entire territory of the empire was divided into six educational districts headed by trustees.
In 1804, the University Charter appeared, giving institutions of higher education considerable autonomy. The university had its own court, the higher administration had no right to interfere in the affairs of universities, which themselves chose the rector and professors.
The first lyceums began to appear, which were considered average university institutions. The Tsarskoye Selo Lyceum, where Pushkin studied, also belongs to them.
Class character
Telling briefly about education in the Russian Empire, it should be noted that under Nicholas I it took on a class and closed character. Parish schools were intended for peasants, district schools - for the children of merchants, city dwellers and artisans. Gymnasiums - only for children of officials and nobles.
A special decree of 1827 even forbade the admission of peasants to universities and gymnasiums. The education system in the Russian Empire at that time was built on the principles of bureaucratic centralization and estates.
The school charter of 1828 divided primary and secondary education into categories: for children from the lower and middle classes and for children of officials and nobles.
The new university charter of 1835 limits the autonomy of universities, effectively establishing police surveillance over students.
At that time, the network of industrial and technical trainingestablishments. An architectural school, a technological institute appear.
Reforms accompanying the freedom of the peasantry
The abolition of serfdom in 1861 by Alexander II led to important changes in the history of education in the Russian Empire. This was facilitated by the establishment of capitalism and successes in the sphere of industrial production. During this period, there was a general increase in literacy, the development of various forms of education.
The new university charter of 1863 returns autonomy to universities, gives independence in financial, administrative, scientific and pedagogical issues. This plays a big role in the development of higher education in the Russian Empire.
In 1864, all-class accessible education appears. Along with state schools, Sunday, parochial and private schools appear. Gymnasiums are divided into real and classical. Now they accept, regardless of class, but education is paid.
In 1869, the Higher Women's Courses were opened - the first educational institutions for women.
The Last Russian Emperor
Women's education continued to develop actively under Nicholas II. However, compared with the developed countries of the world, per capita spending on education of children still remained miserable. If in England they spent 2 rubles 84 kopecks a year, then in Russia - 21 kopecks.
The level of education in the Russian Empire by this time has reached relatively high levels. In 191430% of children aged 8 to 11 attended school. In cities, this figure was close to 50%, and in villages it was slightly more than 20%.
Primary education reform
At the same time, in general, the level of literacy of the lower strata of the population remained extremely low, there was no law on universal compulsory education. According to the 1897 census, only 21% of the population was literate.
At the same time, in most European countries, general illiteracy has already been overcome, universal education already existed. Universal primary education was required in the Russian Empire.
In Russia, the reform of education was discussed by the State Duma until 1912. As a result, it consisted in the introduction of general primary education, which was planned to be organized in half of the provinces by 1918, and throughout the country by the end of the 1920s.
Funding
At the same time, the financing of primary education was carried out mainly on donations and at the expense of zemstvos. Loans for public education are growing, by 1904 they are almost doubling in a decade, the budget of the Ministry of Public Education is increasing from 22 to 42 million rubles.
After the revolution of 1905, the need for a law on universal primary education was actively discussed in society and at the level of authorities. Partially approved by 1908. Later, four years of education are accepted for all elementary schools.
At the same timethe final discussion of the bill is constantly delayed, dragging on until 1912. As a result, the State Council finally rejects this bill.
Classification of educational institutions
Telling briefly about education in the Russian Empire, we need to dwell on all types of educational institutions that existed during this period. Volost schools belonged to primary educational institutions. They trained exclusively clerks for rural administrations and state chambers.
At the initial stage there were religious schools, which trained clergy for the Russian Orthodox Church, and elementary public schools. The term of study in them was one to two years. They were intended for people with low earnings, since education in them remained free. Mostly opened in rural areas, being under the jurisdiction of the Zemstvo Council.
Primary education was also provided by parochial schools, which were under the spiritual department. An intermediate position between primary and secondary education was occupied by city schools, which were originally called district schools. They were supposed to provide a complete education to the poor, but the classes were organized for a fee.
Secondary schools
The most common secondary school in the Russian Empire is the gymnasium. The tuition fee in it was affordable for most segments of the population. Moreover, the gymnasiums were both public and private. Women and men were trained separately.
The first secular general education gymnasium in Russiaappeared in 1726. She worked at the Academy of Sciences. At that time, for admission, one had to be in the taxable estate. Since 1864, real and classical gymnasiums have been established. They studied in the classical for eight years, and after graduation they had the right to enter the university, as they studied Latin.
Separately, at the gymnasiums, there were additional preparatory classes that were intended only to give primary education. At the same time, they could prepare them for entering the gymnasium.
Real school
Unlike classical gymnasiums, in real ones the main attention was paid to the study of applied disciplines, first of all, the natural-mathematical cycle. They were originally created to spread technical education to the masses. Since 1864 they have become a preparatory stage for those wishing to enter universities. After the adoption of the charter in 1872, their purpose has changed dramatically.
From now on, they gave the education necessary only for work in industry and trade. The term of study was six years. Theological seminaries were secondary educational institutions for future priests. On a full board basis, secondary educational institutions for future military personnel have been created - cadet corps.
Higher education institutions
Universities formed the basis of higher education in the Russian Empire. By the beginning of the 20th century, they existed in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Dorpat, Kazan, Kyiv, Kharkov, Odessa, Novorossiysk, Tomsk and Warsaw.
Secular higher educational institutions also workedestablishments - institutions. They trained mainly specialists in the natural sciences and technical industries.
In the ROC system, the higher educational institutions were theological seminaries. The first was Moscow, which appeared in 1685. For a long time it was called the Slavic-Greek-Latin Academy.
Officers received military education on the basis of academies. At the school of navigational and mathematical sciences, they prepared for service in the artillery. The first exclusively military educational institution opened in Gatchina in 1795.
Private schools
Private schools played an important role in this system. For example, Sunday, training in which was held once a week. In the Russian Empire, representatives of the intelligentsia arranged such educational institutions for semi-literate workers, artisans, peasants, as well as working teenagers who wanted to get an education.
