Emperor Peter the Great made the first attempt to introduce primary education that would be accessible to everyone. On his orders, every regional town where there was already a parish school had to open an elementary public school for ten-to-fifteen-year-old children from all social backgrounds. This initiative faced a fierce pushback from the 18th-century Russian society. Parish schools didn’t want for their students to move on to study new sciences elsewhere, and the teachers themselves were often coming from the lower classes and held very traditional views in regards to raising and teaching children. They were, for instance, strongly in favor of beatings and lashings, often carrying whips around the classroom and using them to whip young men for misbehaving or raising their voice. Nevertheless, first numerical schools have appeared during Peter the Great’s rule. Basic arithmetic was taught there. Peter’s reforms have laid the foundation for secular school education.
By the early 20th century, a vast education network was functioning in Russia, comprising three distinct stages. Primary stage: parish schools and public schools; middle stage: classic gymnasiums and real schools; higher stage: universities and institutes.
Parish schools were often organized by the congregation of a church. They had either one or two grades. Divine law, reading, writing, and arithmetic were taught there. History was also taught in parish schools with two distinct grades. For centuries the Church was vying for control over the education for the general populace. In 1884, Alexander III, who believed that orthodox christian values were foundational to Russian absolutism, has signed into law the “Rules about Parish Schools” written by the Synod. The educational purpose of these schools was defined as “…enlightenment of the people about the truths of Orthodox Christian faith and rules of piety; fostering a love of the Holy Church and loyalty to the Tzar and Fatherland.”
By the early 20th century, a vast education network was functioning in Russia, comprising three distinct stages. Primary stage: parish schools and public schools; middle stage: classic gymnasiums and real schools; higher stage: universities and institutes.
Parish schools were often organized by the congregation of a church. They had either one or two grades. Divine law, reading, writing, and arithmetic were taught there. History was also taught in parish schools with two distinct grades. For centuries the Church was vying for control over the education for the general populace. In 1884, Alexander III, who believed that orthodox christian values were foundational to Russian absolutism, has signed into law the “Rules about Parish Schools” written by the Synod. The educational purpose of these schools was defined as “…enlightenment of the people about the truths of Orthodox Christian faith and rules of piety; fostering a love of the Holy Church and loyalty to the Tzar and Fatherland.”
Among the main subjects taught at these schools was the Divine Law, which included learning about prayers and liturgies, and a brief catechism. Reading church print and civil print was also on the curriculum of these schools, along with writing and basics arithmetic. At first, the Parish schools were teaching their students for two years; the duration of their programs was later extended to three years. Moscow Governorate has instituted a diocesan teaching committee to oversee the parish school matters in 1884, and its regional divisions were only opened 10 years later.
