In tsarist Russia, compulsory universal primary education was introduced. The myth is used to belittle the merits of the Soviet government in eliminating illiteracy.
Examples of using
On the Web, you can often find statements that universal primary education was introduced by law back in tsarist Russia. The year of introduction is indicated as 1908.
In most cases, the chain of links leads to the well-known article by B. L. Brazol "The reign of Emperor Nicholas II in figures and facts (1894-1917)", as the source of this statement. In it, Brazol indicates only the year in which "initial training … became compulsory", but does not indicate a specific piece of legislation that established such a provision:
Initial training was free of charge by law, and from 1908 it became compulsory. Since this year, about 10,000 schools have been opened annually. In 1913 their number exceeded 130,000. If the revolution had not broken out, then compulsory initial training would have long been an accomplished fact throughout the territory of Tsarist Russia).
Many authors cite the law of May 3, 1908 as the law that approved primary education in the Russian Empire.
Vice-rector of the Tambov Theological Seminary, Priest Viktor Lisyunin, writes in his article:
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The participation of the clergy in the public education system intensified after the law was passed on May 3, 1908 on the gradual (within 10 years) introduction of universal compulsory primary education).
The article by Doctor of Historical Sciences, Professor Olga Anatolyevna Khasbulatova "Evolution of Russian state policy towards women: a review of the historical experience of the pre-revolutionary period" says:
In accordance with the law of May 3, 1908, it was planned to introduce compulsory free primary education for children from 8 to 12 years old within 10 years.
In the article by Olga Alexandrovna Golikova "Creation of a network of universal primary education on the territory of the Tomsk province at the beginning of the XX century." we find the following:
The government issued a law on May 3, 1908, which marked the beginning of the introduction of universal education in Russia. He identified a number of important points:
- all children of both sexes, upon reaching school age, must receive free primary education,
- the period of study in primary school must be 4 years,
- one teacher should have had 50 children,
- responsibility for opening the necessary schools was assigned to local governments, under the leadership and supervision of the Ministry of Public Education,
- The Ministry had to decide on the financing of new educational institutions 3)
Since the publication of the law of May 3, 1908, the country began to take the first measures related to the implementation of the project for the introduction of universal education in the country, which assumed the creation of school networks of primary educational institutions).
Reality
In fact, the law of May 3, 1908 bears the title "On the leave of 6,900,000 rubles for the needs of primary education," and there is not a single word about the introduction of universal compulsory primary education in Russia. The text of this law can be found in the database "Complete collection of laws of the Russian Empire" (page 228, No. 30328):
Supremely approved law approved by the State Council and the State Duma
About 6.900.000 rubles leave for the needs of primary education.
On the original, with His own Imperial Majesty's hand, it is written: "TO BE BY THIS".
In Tsarskoe Selo.
May 3, 1908.
Bonded by: Secretary of State Baron Ikskul.
To release, from January 1, 1908, six million nine hundred thousand rubles a year according to the estimate of the Ministry of Public Education for the needs of primary education, in excess of the amounts allocated for this subject at the present time, so that the spending of this loan is made by the Minister of Public Education for the specified below (v. 1-6) grounds.
- Benefits from a loan of 6,900,000 rubles per year for the needs of primary education are intended for localities where a particular shortage of schools or funds for the maintenance and further expansion of primary education becomes clear.
- The amount of benefits from the credit indicated in Article 1 in provinces and regions in which the provision on zemstvo institutions has not been introduced is determined for one-class and two-year schools by a note to paragraph 1 of article 3424 of the Charters of Academic Institutions and Educational Institutions of the department of the Ministry of Public Education (Code. Zak., v. XI, part 1, according to Prod. 1906)
- Benefits from the credit specified in Article 1 are issued to individual zemstvo and city self-government bodies and rural societies for the provision of maintenance to students in primary schools, both existing and newly opened, in the amount of 390 rubles for 50 school-age children (from 8 to 11 years old), counting the salary of a teacher per year at least 360 rubles and a teacher of the law (per 100 school-age children) at least 60 rubles.
- The allowances referred to in Article 3 are issued only to those zemstvo and city self-government bodies and rural societies that pledge to continue to spend the amounts freed up as a result of receiving state allowances for the maintenance of primary schools, for construction needs, for the issuance of additional maintenance for teachers and for other needs of primary schools.
- From the credit specified in Article 1, in 1908, one million nine hundred thousand rubles is applied for the issuance of benefits for the one-time expenses for the construction of school buildings and the equipment of schools. For the same need, the leftovers that can be formed from a loan of 5,000,000 rubles intended in 1908 for the costs of maintaining schools, due to their opening not from the beginning of the civil year, are used.
- In all primary schools receiving benefits from the credit specified in Article 1, education must be free of charge.
Collection of legalizations. 1908 Section I. No. 73. Art. 447.
The list of activities outlined in the article by O. A. Golikova (“all children of both sexes, upon reaching school age, should receive free primary education,” etc.) is actually a retelling of the provisions of the bill “On the introduction of universal primary education in the Russian Empire , introduced on February 20, 1907 by the Minister of Public Education P. von Kaufmann to the State Duma:
- All children of both sexes should be given the opportunity, upon reaching school age, to complete a full course of study in a properly organized school.
- The care of opening a sufficient number of schools, according to the number of school-age children, lies with local government institutions, while calculations regarding the number of schools required are made for four age groups: 8, 9, 10 and 11 years old.
- The normal duration of primary school education is 4 years.
- The normal number of children in primary school per teacher is 50.
- The normal area to be served by one school is an area with a three-verst radius.
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It is the responsibility of local government institutions within a two-year period from the date of entry into force of these provisions to draw up a school network and a plan for its implementation to achieve universal learning in a given locality, indicating the deadline for this and the funds expected from local sources for the implementation of the school network. …
Note: Local Church School Governments are involved in developing the school network.
- To be included in the school network, a school designed for four age groups must meet the following requirements: it must have a law teacher and a teacher with the legal right to teach, be provided with appropriate school and hygienic premises, study books and manuals, and provide children with free education.
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The designated (clause 6) school network and the plan for its implementation are submitted by local self-government bodies in accordance with the established procedure to the Ministry of Public Education, which, after preliminary approval of the designated network and plan, communicates with the Ministry of Internal Affairs. If these plans and networks are approved, the Ministry of Public Education releases, within the limits of credits allocated according to the estimates of this Ministry, for each school included in the network, opened or to be opened during the next academic year, an allowance for the minimum remuneration of teachers and law teachers according to their valid number in these schools, counting 360 rubles. teacher and 60 rubles. law teacher. At the same time, the total amount of the grant to schools in this area should not exceed the calculated amount of 390 rubles. for 50 children of school age.
Note: Parish schools included in the school network, both open and due to open during the next academic year, receive benefits from the treasury on an equal basis with schools under the Ministry of Public Education, from a loan allocated according to the financial estimate of His Holiness Synod; Parish schools that are not included in the network in those localities for which it is approved can be maintained only with local funds.
- Other expenses, both for the maintenance and arrangement of premises for schools, and for increasing the salary of students, depending on local conditions, are set by the founders of the schools and are attributed to local sources.
- Receiving allowances from the Ministry of Public Education does not hinder the rights of school founders to run a school. The local government is provided with the organization and the closest management of primary schools, under the direction and supervision of the Ministry of Public Education.
- Estates and other legal organizations and individuals, if the schools they maintain are part of the general school network, the Ministry of Public Education gives a benefit, in case of recognition of the need, according to the above calculation (clause 8) on the same grounds as institutions of public self-government …
- Pending receipt and approval of school networks and plans for the introduction of universal education from local governments, the Ministry of Public Education will distribute the loan allocated according to its estimate, according to local needs and requirements, in relation to the provisions set out, with a view to the implementation of universal education in the area.
I have the honor to present the above for the consideration of the State Duma.
Minister of Public Education P. von Kaufmann
But this project was never destined to become law. The bill was submitted to the Third State Duma on November 1, 1907, and on January 8, 1908, it was submitted for preliminary consideration to the commission on public education. The commission submitted its report to the general meeting on December 10, 1910.
The main provisions of the government project were as follows: 1) the formation of the school network and the plan for its creation was entrusted to the institutions of local self-government, which were supposed to carry out this work within two years from the date of the introduction of the law; 2) an area with a three-verst radius was recognized as the normal limit to be served by one school; 3) the population was provided with free education in schools that are part of the school network; 4) the project of the school network had to be approved by the Minister of Public Education; 5) parochial schools that were included in the school network received state allowances on an equal basis with the schools of the Ministry of Public Education; 6) loans issued from the treasury were intended to remunerate teachers.
The Duma made its own changes: 1) set a minimum amount (10 million rubles), which was to be increased annually, for 10 years, according to the estimates of the Ministry of Public Education, state allocations for the needs of primary schools; 2) has set ten years as the deadline for the introduction of universal primary education; 3) in areas where there were no provincial and uyezd zemstvo institutions, the formation of a school network was entrusted to local bodies of the Ministry of Public Education, together with institutions in charge of zemstvo and urban affairs; 4) the inspector of public schools and others were also involved in the business of compiling all school networks.
The first discussion of the bill took place on January 24, the second - on January 26, the third - on February 12, 1911. The Duma decided to approve the draft on March 19, 1911 and submitted it to the State Council. In the course of consideration, the State Council increased the minimum loan amount (to 10.5 million rubles), for which the allocations for the needs of primary schools were to be increased over 10 years, excluded the indication of the deadline for the introduction of universal education, etc.
On January 28, 1912, the State Council decided to form a conciliation commission, which, however, did not come to a consensus. The report of the commission was submitted to the State Duma on April 9, 1911, the discussion of the report took place on May 21, 1912. However, the Duma remained on all fundamental issues with its original decision. On June 6, 1912, the State Council rejected the bill.
It only remains to add that the liberal-minded P. von Kaufmann did not last long as Minister of Education, and was dismissed on January 1, 1908. Alexander Nikolaevich Schwarz, the trustee of the Warsaw Military District, was appointed in his place, who carried out a number of reactionary measures: the actual abolition of university autonomy (established in August 1905), the prohibition of admitting female auditors to higher education, the strict application of the percentage rate for Jews, etc.
Schwartz pursued a similar policy with regard to secondary and lower schools. In 1910 he was replaced by L. A. Kasso, an even brighter reactionary, under whom more than 130 employees left or were dismissed from Moscow University, including 21 professors (see the Case of Kasso).