ALEXANDER II REFORMS: EDUCATION (1863 - 1864)

ALEXANDER II REFORMS: EDUCATION (1863 - 1864)

1. WHY?

   • Alexander II recognised that a MODERN STATE required a MORE EDUCATED population!
     • - Higher education tended to foster an indepenent spirit and critical mind; many students became more active in society, causing challenging problems for the regime.
     • - These reforms had resulted in many people QUESTIONING the POLITICAL AUTHORITY of the regime!
       • - 'MUTUAL AID' GROUPS were formed...
         • 'STUDY GROUPS' met to discuss RADICAL IDEAS and the INJUSTICES of the Tsarist regime!
         • Communal kitchens and libraries.
   • Increased need for BASIC literacy and numeracy among private smallholding peasants.

2. The 'Zemstva'

   • Responsibility of CONTROLLING SCHOOLS was taken over from the Catholic Church.
   • FUNDING and CONTROL of education.

3. New PRIMARY SCHOOLS were built...

   • Open to ALL classes and BOTH sexes.
   • Numbers INCREASED from 8,000 in 1856, to 23,000 in 1880.
   • From 400,000 to 1 MILLION pupils in attendance.
   • CURRICULUM was still restricted!
     • The aim of 'strengthening religious and moral notions and spreading basic knowledge."
   • - A more LITERATE PEASANT POPULATION took on new aspirations; challenged the government in later years!

4. SECONDARY SCHOOLS

   • CURRICULUM was EXTENDED to accomodate a wider range of subjects and a 'modern' education.
     • Could focus on 'CLASSIC' subjects (Greek and Latin)...
     • ... or more 'MODERN' subjects (the sciences and mathematics).
   • Open to ALL classes and BOTH sexes.
   • In the 1860s, the NUMBERS of schools DOUBLED.

5. UNIVERSITIES

   • Numbers grew from 3,000 to 10,000 by the 1870s.
   • Granted much more freedom and control over their leadership...
     • Selected their own PROFESSORS.
       • 50% left their posts between 1854 to 1862.
       • ENLIGHTENED, LIBERAL-THINKING professors were employed!
         • e.g. Nicholai Pirogov (Famous doctor and educational theorist).
     • Designed COURSES.
     • Student ADMISSIONS and DISCIPLINE.
     • Governed themselves now.
   • - WOMEN could attend COURSES; but NOT obtain a DEGREE!
   • + Students in attendance were now from wider SOCIAL GROUPS!
   • - Many students relied on STATE FINANCIAL AID; poor and malnourished.