1 female gymnasium. History of female education in Russia

Among the great variety educational institutions that existed in the first two decades of the 20th century in the city of Novonikolaevsk, no doubt, the first Novonikolaevskaya female gymnasium is a bright center for the formation of female culture and female education. History has made a great gift to our contemporaries and future generations by preserving the documents of this institution. 94 archival files of the First Novonikolaevskaya, carefully preserved by the employees of the Novosibirsk city archive female gymnasium allow you to form an idea not only about the activities of this educational institution, but also to see some events national history through the prism of the history of the city of Novonikolaevsk.

According to the documents, the predecessor of the First Novonikolaevskaya Women's Gymnasium was a private educational institution with the rights of an educational institution of the 3rd category, founded by Pavel Alekseevna Smirnova in 1902.

Pavel Alekseevna Smirnova was born in 1869 into the family of an Orthodox priest. In 1984 she graduated from the Samara Diocesan School for Women and received the title of a home teacher. Upon arrival in Novonikolaevsk P.A. Smirnova opened a private educational institution, which was a two-grade elementary school, at which, in addition, Pavel Alekseevna organized choral and music circles.

In 1907, the 5th grade was opened, and at the same time the school was transformed into an educational institution of the 1st category.

In 1908, the 6th grade was opened, and in 1909 - the 7th grade. In the same year, a petition was filed with the Trustee of the West Siberian educational district to provide students with the rights that students of the female gymnasiums of the Ministry of Public Education of the Ministry of Public Education enjoy in accordance with the Regulation on May 24, 1870. In accordance with the aforementioned Regulation, women's schools were renamed into gymnasiums and progymnasiums. According to the Regulations, women's gymnasiums were intended to teach girls of all classes and religions, consisted of preparatory and seven basic classes, the eighth pedagogical. The first three classes (sometimes more) constituted a gymnasium and could exist as an independent educational institution. High school students who graduated from the 7th grade were issued a teacher's certificate primary school, 8 classes - a home teacher. Those who received a medal at the end of the gymnasium received the title of home tutor.

By order of the trustee of the West Siberian educational district of August 2, 1910 No. 6432, a private female educational institution of the 1st category, established by P.A. Smirnova, was transformed into a women's gymnasium of the Ministry of Public Education, which gave her the rights of a state gymnasium.

On November 22, 1910, Pavel Alekseevna Smirnova was approved as the head of the gymnasium.

According to the acquired status of a state institution, the management and control of the financial and economic activities of the gymnasium was carried out by the Board of Trustees, elected for a period of 3 years, by agreement with the head of the gymnasium. The powers of the Board of Trustees included:

1. Election of the head of the Board of Trustees and the head of the gymnasium;

2. Raising funds for the needs of the gymnasium;

3. Determination of the salary for the staff of the gymnasium;

4. Control over the spending of funds;

5. Determination of tuition fees in the gymnasium;

6. Creation of conditions for the improvement and maintenance of order in the gymnasium.

The first chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Novonikolaevskaya women's gymnasium was a well-known doctor, a man who devoted much effort to education in the city of Novo-Nikolaevsk, one of the founders of the Society for the Care of Public Education, which existed in Novo-Nikolaevsk in those years, Mikhail Pavlovich Vostokov. By the attitude of the Trustee of the West Siberian educational district on October 11, 1910, 5 people were approved by the members of the Board of Trustees of the Novonikolaevsk women's gymnasium: Ekaterina Nikolaevna Vstavskaya, Kalisthenia Platonovna Lapshina, Elena Iosifovna Piton, Alexey Grigorievich Besedin, Sergey Vladimirovich Gorokhov. In subsequent years, the Board of Trustees of the gymnasium included such famous people like Andrey Dmitrievich Kryachkov, Alexander Mikhailovich Lukanin, Nikolai Mikhailovich Tikhomirov and others.

The maintenance of the gymnasium was provided from 3 sources: the main one was the income received as tuition fees, 2,500 rubles came from the government treasury, and the same amount from the Novonikolaevsk City Duma. Tuition fees for preparatory classes were 50 rubles per year, for basic classes - 100 rubles, for 8 additional classes - 150 rubles per year.

The funds received from the Novo-Nikolaevsk City Public Administration were spent not only on economic needs, but also on paying for the education of school girls - orphans or those whose parents' financial situation did not allow them to pay tuition fees. The decision to exempt from tuition fees was taken by the head of the gymnasium, since August 1910 (since the change in the status of the private gymnasium), this issue was decided by the Board of Trustees of the gymnasium. ...

On July 21, 1911, at a meeting of the Novo-Nikolaev City Duma, a petition was considered by the Board of Trustees of the Novo-Nikolaevskaya Women's Gymnasium, established by P.A. Smirnova, about the opening of the 8th grade at the gymnasium. In the course of consideration, a decision was made on the allocation of a one-time allowance for a female gymnasium for 1912 for the opening of the 8th grade.

The lack of suitable premises at that time was a big problem for many educational institutions in Novonikolaevsk. In connection with the opening of new classes and an increase in the number of students in the women's gymnasium, the issue of premises is becoming more and more acute.

Since its inception, the Novo-Nikolaevskaya women's gymnasium has been located in rented premises. From 1908 to 1912, the gymnasium was located in a house belonging to the merchant F.D. Moshtakov on the street. Asinkritovskaya No. 40-42, quarter 27, section 18-19. The available premises did not meet the needs of the gymnasium, "the occupied rooms are small for the full number of students." As can be seen from the letter of the Chairman of the Pedagogical Council to the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the gymnasium, the number of classes before the beginning of 1912/1913 school year was quite high: in the 1st grade - 52 people, in the 2nd grade. - 50, in 3kl. - 44, in 4 cells. - 43, in 5 cells. - 31 people, in 6 cells. - 36 people in 7 cl. - 19 people

In order to accommodate such a number of students and provide a full studying proccess, the gymnasium required: "10 classrooms, a room for the headmistress's apartment, a physical office, an office, a library, a teacher's room, a dining room, a recreational hall, 2 dressing rooms."

Classes at the gymnasium were held in the morning, so sometimes its premises were used by other educational institutions. So, in particular, at a meeting of the Board of Trustees dated September 7, 1914, a request was considered by the inspector of public schools of the 7th district for the possible provision of premises of the Novonikolaevskaya female gymnasium "from two o'clock in the afternoon, secondly ..." for training sessions "... Nov- Nikolaev higher women's school, a two-year women's school and the 32nd women's primary school in view of the fact that the school premises of these schools are allocated for the needs of the military department. "

By this time, the gymnasium was located in two houses belonging to the I. T. Surikov and sons ”. In 1916, for the needs of the gymnasium, the Board of Trustees rented another 2-storey building, at the address: Kuznetskaya, 8, also owned by Surikov. However, the rented premises did not meet the necessary requirements of the educational institution, moreover, the rent was prohibitively high.

Archival documents of the First Novonikolaevskaya Women's Gymnasium testify that starting from 1908 and throughout the entire subsequent existence of the institution, the leadership of the gymnasium, including the head of the gymnasium P.A. Smirnov, the Board of Trustees and Pedagogical Councils, as well as the city public administration bodies tried to solve the issue of building their own building for the gymnasium.

On July 24, 1908, the city public administration decided: “in view of the fact that the city subsidizing the educational institution of P.A. Smirnova, who does not accommodate everyone who wants to study, and not being able to expand this school, is petitioning to open a Government female gymnasium in the city and to allot a plot of land for the construction of its own building for a female gymnasium, if the Ministry of Public Education finds it necessary to build this building. " In the following years, from 1909 to 1914, the city head V.I. Zhernakov is sending petitions to the Ministry of Public Education, the Trustee of the West Siberian educational district in the hope of speeding up the decision on the construction of a building for a women's gymnasium. In this regard, in a letter dated December 13, 1912, addressed to Mrs. P.A. Smirnova, V.I. Zhernakov explains to the headmaster of the gymnasium that in order to "enter into the State list the amount for the construction of a building for a female gymnasium in the city of Novo-Nikolaevsk ... the gymnasium you have established must be officially considered a city school, managed by the Board of Trustees." a statement that she agrees to “sell the grammar school inventory to the city ... You cannot continue to maintain your private gymnasium due to lack of funds. The city, for its part, will ask you to remain the head of the gymnasium for a mutually agreed salary. "

In 1913 Novo-Nikolaevskoe City Public Administration persistently petitions the Trustee of the West Siberian Educational District and the Ministry of Public Education for the allocation of a loan from the treasury for the construction of his own gymnasium building. In turn, the Novo-Nikolaev City Administration allocated a plot of land in the 47th quarter of the central part of the city on the street. Asinkritovskaya and assigned a lump sum for construction in the amount of 10,000 rubles.

In connection with the outbreak of the First World War, the issue of building a building faded into the background, although the problem of premises became even more aggravated. The increased flow of wounded arriving from the front led to the need to look for premises for hospitals in the city. On July 19, 1916, a circular letter “G . (master - author) Comrade of the Ministry of Public Education ", which instructed:" in view of the clarified need to increase hospitals and the possibility of training for this purpose in educational institutions ... to assist in meeting this need and for this purpose not limited to defending the interests of educational institutions, which (sic) can practice after using all other suitable premises. "

A threefold increase in the rent, the lack of repairs in the occupied premises for several years forced on February 1, 1919, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees to send a letter to the Novo-Nikolaevsk City Council again, in which he expressed the request “to raise the issue of building your own building again, if not in the near future , then at least in the future, when the life of the country and, in particular, the city will return to normal ”.

However, as the "future" of the First Novo-Nikolaevskaya female gymnasium showed, it was never destined to acquire its own building. In May 1919, the three-storey building of the gymnasium was requisitioned and at the same time transferred to the units of the Polish army.

The formation of a system of training and education of high school girls was carried out at active participation Pedagogical Council of the gymnasium. As can be seen from the minutes of the meetings of the Pedagogical Council of the female gymnasium, the teachers considered the issues of admission and transfer of students to classes, the selection of educational literature and teaching aids for teaching disciplines, encouraging and punishing high school girls, developing curricula in accordance with the circulars sent by the Ministry of Public Education and the West Siberian educational district, organizing extracurricular activities for high school girls.

According to the documents of the gymnasium, it was established that in the period from 1912 to September 1916, the Pedagogical Council of the gymnasium was headed by priest Father Pyotr Vasilkov, State Councilor Stepan Ignatievich Anishchenko. By a letter dated August 12, 1916, the Director of the Novonikolaevsk Teachers' Seminary, State Councilor Pavel Krylov was appointed chairman of the Pedagogical Council of the Novonikolaevskaya Women's Gymnasium from September 1, 1916, the Trustee of the West Siberian educational district. In May-April 1918, the leadership of the Pedagogical Council was carried out by P.A. Smirnova, and since November 1918 Sofia Petrovna Tyzhnova, who since September 1918 acted as the head of the gymnasium.

It should be said that students in the women's gymnasium had to observe strict rules of conduct, both in class and in everyday life. Gymnasium students stood out from the general mass of urban children in that they wore a special, established style of uniform. As ZM Siryachenko recalls, “both school girls and teachers wore uniforms. Our teachers wore dresses of blue color, and the schoolgirls wore a dark green dress with a black or white apron. A white dress apron was worn when going to a symphony concert or a charity evening. They usually wore linen stockings (black or brown, more often black) and shoes on their feet, and in the warm season - white stockings and shoes. Even in winter in the gymnasium it was impossible to walk in woolen shoes, boots, felt boots. From the fifth grade, it was allowed to wear high-heeled shoes. Girls put their hair in braids .... Bows were dark, white weaved on holidays. From the fifth grade, it was allowed to do hair. Our gymnasium badge was yellow, oval, we usually wore it on a cap or on a dress on the left. It read "First Novo-Nikolaev Gymnasium"

Gymnasium students were not allowed to visit the "entertainment summer gardens" "cinema, so as not to watch films that ... by age were not supposed to watch", in public places schoolgirls are required to be in the uniform assigned to them. "

For a violation of discipline, they "removed the badge of the gymnasium" or brought the issue to the consideration of the Pedagogical Council. A vivid evidence of the requirements for the strict observance of the gymnasium rules is the preserved protocol of the Pedagogical Council of February 14, 1912 No. 1, which considered the statement of the head of the gymnasium about the misconduct of the student Sofia Mashtakova. For S. Mashtakova's attending a fancy-dress evening at a military meeting, at which she was with her parents, the schoolgirl was warned that "visiting masquerades is certainly unacceptable and entails the removal of the guilty student from the educational institution." The Pedagogical Council decided to parents of S. Mashtakova "to express deep regret that they did not stop their daughter from doing such an act that did not correspond to the gymnasium rules in time."

Another example concerning the rules of conduct at the gymnasium: at an emergency meeting of the Pedagogical Council (minutes of 02/07/1919 No. 84), the issue of admitting students of the gymnasium to public speaking was considered. Due to the fact that Alexandra Ivanovna Shamret officially applied to the gymnasium with a proposal to perform on the stage on the day of her benefit performance for the students of the gymnasium, are unacceptable. "

Outside of school hours, the girls attended concerts, charity evenings, and cinemas in an organized manner. In order to help those in need, the gymnasium often organized its own charity evenings, to which the wealthy people of the city were invited. The proceeds were used to pay tuition for the needy students of the gymnasium, people who suffered as a result of disasters and misfortunes, to the front (after the outbreak of the First World War). In this regard, I would like to cite the content of one letter dated February 15, 1916, which is very indicative from the point of view of the norms of etiquette that existed at that time, sent by the chairman of the committee of heads of secondary and lower educational institutions for out-of-school supervision in the city of Novo-Nikolaevsk, the director of the male gymnasium in St. Novo-Nikolaevsk, State Councilor Nikolai Moiseevich Maksin addressed to the head of the gymnasium P.A. Smirnova.

“Testifying my gratitude for the invitation to the paid student's evening organized on February 19 at the women's gymnasium, I have the honor to inform you, Gracious Empress, that, unfortunately, I cannot attend this evening, because the sent ticket of the 2nd row / 10th seat /, for which I paid five rubles, does not correspond to either my position or the price of the ticket.

To this I humbly ask you to inform me of the names and surnames of the 8th grade pupils of the female gymnasium, who, with the offer of a ticket, entered my office wearing coats and hats. As for the ticket, it is attached to the affairs of the committee.

Women's gymnasiums

secondary general educational institutions in Russia, were divided into gymnasiums of the Departments of Institutions Empress Mary(See Department of Institutions of Empress Maria) , grammar schools of the Ministry of Public Education and private grammar schools (see. Gymnasium).

Women's gymnasiums Departments of Institutions of Empress Maria(Mariinsky). In 1862, the Mariinsky Women's School (See Women's Schools) was renamed to the female school for visiting girls. Until 1866, 7 gymnasiums were opened in St. Petersburg (with a 7-year period of study). Zh. G. Were created on their model in other cities. They were opened at the expense of the Department of Institutions of the Empress Maria. They accepted girls of all classes and religions over 8 years old. Approved in 1862, the Charter of Women's Schools for incoming girls was in effect until the closure of the Mariinsky gymnasiums (1918). In 1859, a one-year pedagogical department was opened at the Mariinsky School (converted in 1864 into two-year Pedagogical Courses); those who graduated were given a certificate of a home teacher. In 1879, a uniform and compulsory training program for all Mariinsky Zh. Was approved; the restructuring of the curriculum was carried out in the direction of bringing it closer to the course of study at the institutes of noble maidens (see). The "Normal School Report" adopted in 1905 finally equalized training course gymnasiums with institute courses. Zh. Were paid educational institutions. By 1911 there were 35 Mariinsky women in Russia with 16 thousand students.

Women's gymnasiums of the Ministry of Public Education. In 1870, the women's schools were renamed as gymnasiums and gymnasiums. Zh. Was intended for girls of all classes and religions and consisted of preparatory, seven basic classes, 8th pedagogical (see. Pedagogical classes). The first 3 classes (sometimes more) constituted a progymnasium (see Progymnasium) and could exist as an independent educational institution. The course of study in the Zh. City of the Ministry of Public Education was somewhat higher than in the Mariinsky, but lower than in the men's gymnasiums. Those who graduated from the 7th grade were given a certificate for the title of an elementary school teacher, those who graduated from the 8th grade - a home teacher, and those who received a medal - a home tutor (see Home tutor). The end of the 8th grade opened access to the Higher Women's Courses without an exam. All Zh. Of the Ministry of Public Education were paid.

In 1880 there were 79 gymnasiums and 164 gymnasiums in Russia; by 1909, the number of female students and grammar schools was 958.

Private female gymnasiums adhered to the rules and programs established by the Ministry of Public Education, and were subordinate to the local educational district. In the 70s. 23 such gymnasiums were opened, including 7 in St. Petersburg, 5 in Kharkov and 4 in Moscow. Due to the high tuition fees, only daughters of wealthy parents could study in them. In the best private Zh. G. The course of study corresponded to the course of men's gymnasiums (for example, Zh. G. Stoyunina in Tsarskoe Selo, the classical gymnasium of S. N. Fisher in Moscow). Some private estates were of a class character, for example, the aristocratic type of the princess Obolenskaya in St. Petersburg. In the 80s. some private housing estates were transformed into ministerial ones.

Lit .: Rodevich M., Sat. current decrees and orders for female gymnasiums and pro-gymnasiums of the Ministry of Public Education, St. Petersburg, 1884; Rozhdestvensky S. V., Historical review of the activities of the Ministry of Public Education, 1802-1902, St. Petersburg, 1902; Educational institutions Departments of the institution of Empress Maria, St. Petersburg, 1906; Skvortsov I.V., Past and Present of St. Petersburg Women's Gymnasiums of the Department of Institutions of Empress Maria. 1858-1908, St. Petersburg, 1908; Likhacheva E., Materials for the history of female education in Russia, [vol. 1-4], SPB, 1890-1901; Malinovsky NP, Essays on the history of female secondary education in Russia, "Russian School", 1914, No. 9-10; Lapchinskaya VP, NA Vyshnegradskiy and his role in the development of female education in Russia (1821-1872), "Soviet Pedagogy", 1962, no. 6.

V.P. Lapchinskaya.

Big Soviet encyclopedia... - M .: Soviet encyclopedia. 1969-1978 .

See what "Women's gymnasium" is in other dictionaries:

See Gymnasium, Women's Schools, Mariinsky Women's Gymnasiums, Mariinsky Women's Schools ...

See Gymnasium, Women's Schools, Mariinsky Women's Gymnasiums, Mariinsky Women's Schools. * * * WOMEN'S COLLEGE FOR WOMEN'S GYMNASIUM, see Gymnasium (see GYMNASIUM), Women's schools (see WOMEN'S SCHOOLS), Mariinsky women's gymnasiums (see MARIINSKY ... ... encyclopedic Dictionary

Women's gymnasiums- cf. general education. uch. establishments in dorev. Russia, subdivided into government agencies of the institutions of the imp. Mary (mariinsky), min. education and private services. In the State of the Office of the imp. Mary accepted girls of all classes who reached 8 ... ... Russian humanitarian encyclopedic dictionary

See the articles Women's gymnasiums and Women's schools ... Great Soviet Encyclopedia

Since 1862, secondary general educational institutions in Russia of the Departments of Institutions of the Empress Maria with 7 years of study. Closed after the October Revolution ... Big Encyclopedic Dictionary

See Grammar schools for women's departments, imp. Mary ... Encyclopedic Dictionary of F.A. Brockhaus and I.A. Efron

gymnasiums- gymnasiums, secondary educational institutions. In pre-revolutionary Russia, they were created mainly to prepare for universities or for service in government institutions. The first in St. Petersburg was the Academic Gymnasium (1726). By… … Encyclopedic reference book "St. Petersburg"

WOMEN'S SCHOOLS in Russia 1) secondary educational institutions (with 7 years of study, 1858) of the Departments of Institutions of Empress Maria; in 1862 they were renamed the Mariinsky Women's Gymnasiums; existed until 1917; 2) from the 80s. 19th century initial training ... ... Big Encyclopedic Dictionary

GYMNASIUM, secondary general educational institutions, mostly of a humanitarian orientation. Originated in Western Europe in the 16th century, they gave a classical education. The first academic gymnasium in Russia in St. Petersburg (founded in 1726) ... Modern encyclopedia

Books

The rules of the test for the admission of female students to the women's gymnasiums and gymnasiums, the transfer from class to class and the end of the course, as well as other educational needs,. Approved by the Minister of Public Education on August 31, 1874. Reproduced in the author's original spelling. V…

The start of mass education for women in Russia was given by Peter I. The Tsar issued a decree according to which it was forbidden to marry "illiterate noble girls who cannot even write their surname."

From the second quarter of the 18th century, home education for women of the nobility gradually began to come into fashion. And in 1764, the Imperial Educational Society for Noble Maidens, the famous Smolny Institute, began to work in St. Petersburg. Representatives of the most noble families of Russia lived and studied in it at full board. The best graduates often became maids of honor at court.

Closed educational institutions acted on the principle that today is preserved in English privileged public schools: the student must constantly live where he is studying. However, this form of education, created for the nobility, whose estates were scattered throughout the country, was inconvenient for the urban population, whose numbers grew steadily throughout the 19th century.

In addition, the closed noble boarding schools cut off the education of the children of the bourgeois and the bourgeoisie, whose influence in society was growing.

At the same time, ordinary gymnasium education for incoming students remained the privilege of the male part of society - the first such institution appeared in 1803.

Home education for girls was not enough, and only a few could afford to hire home-based teachers. At the same time, in the Russian society of the middle of the 19th century, the requirements for the cultural level of women were constantly growing, and the representatives of various classes themselves en masse aspired to enlightenment.

Therefore, a public female educational institution was a pressing requirement. As a result, on March 28, 1858, Emperor Alexander II issued a decree on the establishment in St. Petersburg of the first women's school without boarding school. And on April 19, the Mariinsky Gymnasium opened, where almost any girl could enter, regardless of origin and income.

As historian Natalya Ushakova noted in an interview with RT, in the middle of the 19th century, the first places in literacy were occupied by the St. Petersburg and Moscow provinces. They were followed by the provinces with the population working in local factories and waste industries - Yaroslavl, Vladimir, Kostroma.

“It is no coincidence that the first private female gymnasium was created in 1857 in Kostroma. And the very next year, the business of women's education was transferred to the reliable hands of the Mariinsky Society, after which the St. Petersburg School appeared, ”Ushakova said.

The first steps

The creation of the gymnasium was initiated by the Department of Institutions of the Empress Maria Alexandrovna - the Mariinsky Society, after which the gymnasium was named. It was government agency engaged in charity work. In addition to raising orphans and helping the sick, the Mariinsky Society was entrusted with women's education.

Portrait of Maria Alexandrovna by K. Robertson. 1849-1851, Hermitage

The well-known teacher Nikolai Vyshnegradskiy became the organizer and ideologist of women's education. He began his career as a gymnasium teacher, then defended his dissertation, taught philosophy to students pedagogical institute... In 1857, Vyshnegradsky took up the work of his entire life - the development of female education in Russia. He set out to make this issue a subject of wide public discussion, to draw up plans for reforms in the education system. To realize his ideas, he began to publish the "Russian Pedagogical Journal".

The issues raised by Vyshnegradskiy interested the society: his magazine was not only popular - the publication formed a social demand for women's education.

Vyshnegradsky himself has earned sufficient authority to appeal to Duke Peter of Oldenburg, chairman of the Main Council for the Development of Women's Education. The Duke, a well-known advocate of education, supported Vyshnegradsky's initiative and, together with Empress Maria Alexandrovna, acted as the project manager for the creation of the first Mariinsky women's school and further development gymnasium education for girls.

Portrait of Prince P.G. Oldenburg work by J. Coura, Hermitage

“It was no coincidence that Vyshnegradskiy started publishing a magazine. The period of the beginning of the reign of Alexander II can be described as the time when education issues worried society most of all, because educated people were the initiators and implementers of a whole series of reforms that changed Russia, ”Ushakova emphasized.

She added that, in addition to the Russian Pedagogical Journal, the Government Gazette, St. Petersburg Vedomosti, Golos, Vestnik Evropy, Russkaya Mysl, Russian wealth". According to Ushakova, all directions were presented in the press - from conservative to very liberal.

Educational innovation

Even pre-revolutionary researchers noted that boarding education put undue pressure on students.

Thus, the historian of pedagogy Pyotr Kapterev wrote in 1898: “When a boy, from the soft domestic order of life, from a warm family atmosphere, goes to an official state school, arranged in a barracks manner, then he is sorry; but when the same transition is made with a girl, then it is even more pity for her, harder, sadder to look at her. "

Becoming the director, Vyshnegradskiy developed an advanced education system for the gymnasium by the standards of that time. If in the women's boarding schools the most severe discipline was maintained, then at the Vyshnegradsky school it was only necessary to observe decency - there was almost a homely, very relaxed atmosphere here. In boarding schools, the pupils wore a special uniform, this was strictly regulated. In the gymnasium, initially there was no uniform at all, so as not to embarrass the students.

V educational process Vyshnegradskiy was guided by the principle “not to force, but to develop”. The director categorically forbade any punishment. In response, the female students showed a much greater interest in their studies than the boarding school students.

162 girls aged from nine to 13 years old entered the first course, three of them are peasant women by origin. Tuition fees were very low: Vyshnegradskiy advocated the availability of education and insisted that the Mariinsky Society shoulder the main costs. The Petersburg experiment was recognized as successful, and since the 1860s, the Mariinsky gymnasiums began to appear throughout Russia.

Intermediate to Higher

In 1871, a large-scale educational reform began - according to historians, one of the most urgent for the government of Alexander II. The new statutes of grammar schools and progymnasiums acquired the status of law.

This is how the historian Alexei Lyubzhin describes this period: "Contrary to the opinion of the majority of the State Council, Emperor Alexander II approved the charter of 1871. In accordance with it, the right to enter universities was granted only to graduates of classical gymnasiums or who passed exams at their course."

This further increased the role of women's gymnasiums, because in 1878 a system began to form in Russia higher education for women. However, without a gymnasium education, it was impossible to enter the women's higher courses.

“Since the middle of the 19th century, the Russian public has paid close attention to the quality and content of teaching in secondary educational institutions. Criticism of classical grammar schools, real schools, and the entire education system intensified especially in the press of the 1890s. The issue of expanding the network of women's educational institutions, including higher ones, arose with particular urgency, since there were more and more people wishing to study there, ”Ushakova said.

It soon became clear that the capabilities of the Mariinsky Society were too small to meet the country's need for women's educational institutions. And since the 1860s, the Ministry of Public Education began to open its own women's schools, which, after the adoption in 1870 of the Regulations on Women's Gymnasiums and Gymnasiums, finally became equal in rights with men's gymnasiums.

However, the "ministerial" educational institutions differed from the Mariinsky gymnasiums in that they were focused on training women teaching staff: those who graduated from the seven grades were given a certificate of a primary school teacher, after eight grades - a certificate of a home teacher. In these educational institutions, more attention was paid to foreign languages, since it was believed that every teacher should speak them.

Before the revolution of 1917, the number of female gymnasiums of the Ministry of Public Education reached 958. These educational institutions were opened even in small county towns. In addition, there were 35 women's gymnasiums of the Mariinsky Society in Russia. More than 16 thousand girls studied in them. But the October Revolution destroyed the existing system.

The next decade and a half became a time of experiments in the field of education - in particular, the Bolsheviks abolished separate education. However, in 1943 it was restored for a short time. Finally, women's schools went down in history in 1954.

The terms "Gymnasion" (Greek) and "Gymnasium" (Latin) had several meanings:

The place for physical exercise and conducting conversations between philosophers and scientists;
General education schools with the following characteristics:
- humanitarian bias of training;
- preparation for university education;
- the presence of classical languages (Latin and Greek).

The first gymnasiums were formed in Ancient Greece... In the Middle Ages, the name "gymnasium" was introduced to refer to special secondary schools that prepared students for admission to universities. The main subject of teaching was Latin.

The best Latin writers of the "golden age" were studied in the gymnasiums, much attention was paid to the works of Cicero.

The era of the Reformation is characterized by a decrease in interest in ancient culture, and, although the ancient languages remain the most important in the teaching system, the main tasks of gymnasiums are to prepare for entering a university where teaching was conducted in Latin, and to train officials and ministers of the church.

At the end of the 16th century in Germany, new languages, natural science began to be introduced in gymnasiums, teaching began to be carried out in national language, however, the classical languages remained in large volume.

Many scholars of the time insisted on learning from the realities. modern world... it pedagogical direction received the name realistic, which later led to the emergence of real grammar schools and real schools. In a real school, mathematics and natural science were in the first place.

In the 19th century, there were disputes around gymnasium education, as a result of which, in a number of countries, a classical gymnasium with two ancient languages (Latin and Greek), a classical gymnasium with one language (Latin) and real schools, where ancient languages were absent, were equated in rights.

Comparison of the curricula of the gymnasiums of that time shows that the ancient languages occupied a significant place in the general teaching system (about 70%).

Since 1870 a matriculation certificate from a real school allowed a student to enter the university on an equal basis with graduates of classical gymnasiums.

History of gymnasium education in Russia. Formation of gymnasium education

Educational institutions of the gymnasium type, i.e. with the study of the Latin language existed in Russia for a very long time. Moreover, Latin was not only the language studied, but also the language of communication. Taught grammar, dialectics, rhetoric, arithmetic, geometry, astronomy and music, philosophy and theology, Greek.

The Slavic-Greek-Latin Academy dates back to 1685, when the Likhud brothers opened a school in the Annunciation Monastery. Teaching here was conducted in Latin and Greek. There was no estate restriction for admission to the academy.

The history of gymnasiums dates back to a German school, opened in 1701, in the German settlement. She occupied the spacious chambers of the boyar V. Naryshkin and received official name gymnasiums, where they taught "languages and philosophy of wisdom." The program included, in addition to ancient and new languages, philosophy, politics, rhetoric, arithmetic and geography. Since 1703 the gymnasium was headed by pastor E. Gluck. As noted in the decree of 1705. in the school, open for general, nationwide benefit, everyone could study.

When the gymnasium was opened, 28 students studied in it, in 1711. - 77. Education was free and consisted of three classes: primary, secondary and upper. Classes lasted 12 hours: from 8 am to 8 pm with a short lunch break.

Subsequently, in 1715. she was transferred to St. Petersburg and represented courses foreign languages with a simple program.

The beginning of the turning point in the business of gymnasium education in Russia was laid in the 18th century. In 1726, a gymnasium was opened at the Academy of Sciences, which was named academic. The main task of the gymnasium was considered preparation for military and civil service, as stated in the Charter, written in 1733 by Fischer. The main subjects of the gymnasium were Latin, Greek, German and French, rhetoric, logic, history, arithmetic. In the years 1726-1729, 278 students were enrolled in the gymnasium. Since 1747, teaching began to be conducted in Russian, students were freed from whipping. In 1758, Razumovsky entrusted the management of the gymnasium to M.V. Lomonosov, who founded a boarding school for 40 people at the gymnasium. In 1765, a department for young students was introduced. In the 70s, in the senior classes, teaching began to be conducted in Latin and German, they began to study the basics of mathematics and natural sciences... But the number of students in the gymnasium was not enough, so in 1805 the gymnasium was closed.

On the initiative of M. Lomonosov in 1755, a second gymnasium was created at Moscow University, which was named the university one. The purpose of the gymnasium was to prepare for listening to lectures at the university. It consisted of two sections: a section for nobles and a section for commoners. However, the training was carried out according to the same scheme. Each department contained four schools.

The first school - "Russian" had three classes:

grammar
poem
eloquence, study of Russian and Church Slavonic languages

Second school - "Latin" had two classes:

grammar
syntax

The third school - "scientific" had three classes:

arithmetic
geometry and geography
philosophy

School 4 - European and Greek languages.

The time spent at the gymnasium was included in the service life. In 1812, the grammar school burned down in a fire in Moscow and never recovered.

In 1758, a third gymnasium was opened in Kazan, named Kazan. They began to teach in the gymnasium oriental languages: Tatar and Kalmyk, given the local conditions and its location. In 1768 the gymnasium was closed due to lack of funds. In 1798 she resumed her work with the aim of preparing young people for military service.

Gymnasiums in the 19th century

V early XIX century in Russia, educational districts were introduced and gymnasiums began to open everywhere. In 1803, Alexander I ordered to open a gymnasium in every provincial town.

1. Charter of 1804

According to this Charter, the goal of the gymnasium was to prepare for entering universities, as well as to give young people the information necessary for a well-bred person. In total, 32 gymnasiums were opened, in which 2838 children studied. The training lasted 4 years. The gymnasiums were free and all-class. The teachers were divided into senior and junior, the director watched the teachers and students. Corporal and moral punishment was prohibited.
Studied:

maths
history
geography
statistics
philosophy
graceful sciences
political economy
natural history
technology
commercial sciences
Latin language
French
German
Painting

The authorities were careful to ensure that there were no national restrictions on education.

In 1805, a committee composed of Fus, Rumovsky, Ozeretskovsky, organized in 1803 at the headquarters of the schools, compiled and published learning programs for gymnasiums, compiled lists of books and manuals for students, proposed teaching models. In the same year, a boarding school was opened at the gymnasium for noble children, whose families lived in the city where the gymnasium was located.

At this time, in spite of the requirements of the charter, "cramming" reigned in the gymnasiums, it did not give real knowledge, and they were not needed. But MM managed to correct the situation. Speransky, introducing examinations for ranks.

2. Reform of 1811

The reform was carried out at the direction of the Minister of Public Education, Count S.S. Uvarova. During the reform, changes were made in the curriculum: the Law of God, the Russian language (Russian), logic were introduced, political economy, mythology, commercial sciences, aesthetics, and philosophy were excluded. The main goal of the gymnasium was to prepare for admission to universities.

In 1819, for all gymnasiums in Russia, a single syllabus, which practically nullified the reform of 1804. Class reception and corporal punishment were established, and religion began to play a significant role. The training lasted seven years.

The curriculum contained the following disciplines:

The law of god
Russian with Church Slavonic and literature
Greek language
Latin language
German
French
geography
history
statistics
logics
rhetoric
maths
statics and the beginning of mechanics
physics and natural history
Painting

If the gymnasium leadership had additional funds, then it was allowed to invite teachers of dance, music and gymnastics.

The extension of the period of study and the reduction in the number of subjects made it possible to get a more detailed understanding of each subject.

3. Charter of 1828

The next stage in the development of the gymnasium is associated with the reign of Nicholas I. The direction of new reforms was announced by the new Minister of Education A.S. Shishkov. "Teaching the whole nation to read and write, or a disproportionate number thereof, would do more harm than good." Already in 1825, with the highest approval, it was ordered:

political science to exclude
the number of lessons assigned for the study of rhetoric and poetry to reduce
the choice of topics for essays is not left to the choice of teachers
submit the lists of students in the gymnasium to the police
teach all subjects in Russian

As a result, on December 8, 1828, the "Committee for the Organization of Educational Institutions", organized in 1826, drew up a new charter, according to which the gymnasiums had to pursue such goals in their education as preparation for entering universities and a bias towards general education and upbringing. The training lasted seven years. Moreover, for three years, all gymnasiums studied general program, and starting from the fourth, gymnasiums were divided into teaching Greek and not teaching him. Teaching with the Greek language was left only in the gymnasiums at the universities. In the rest of the gymnasiums, he was expelled, due to the inability to find good teachers since Greek was considered a luxury, while French was considered a necessity.

Lessons were supposed to be one and a half hour. Ancient languages and mathematics were considered the main subjects. They also taught geography, history, Russian literature, physics, German and French.

For disciplinary action on students introduced "corporal punishment" - rods; increased tuition fees; teachers' salaries were increased 2.5 times; graduates of gymnasiums could take positions of employees of the highest rank, and those who graduated from a gymnasium with the Greek language were enrolled in positions immediately upon entering the service.

According to the charter, the positions of the director, who was at the head of the gymnasium, the inspector who supervised the order in the classes and kept the household, the honorary trustee, who supervised the gymnasium together with the director, were introduced. Pedagogical Councils, formed from teachers, were created to guide educational and educational work.

Under Nicholas I, a uniform was introduced for high school students: "A blue single-breasted coat with white copper buttons, a crimson collar, with shoulder straps, blue pantaloons over boots, a blue soldier's cap with a crimson band" - for commoners. For noble grammar school students relied on "a university uniform with a triangular hat, but without a sword."

In 1837, a system of tests was established during the transition from class to class and at the end of the gymnasium. A certificate has been introduced - a document issued at the end of the gymnasium. In 1846 introduced five-point system, success, behavior, diligence and ability of students began to be assessed on it and entered in the statement. However, when transferring from class to class, the behavior was not taken into account. Those who received points 4 or 5 during the exams were to be awarded with books and letters of commendation.

The importance of trustees and inspectors in the life of the gymnasium was increased. Graduating from high school without an examination in Latin was allowed in 1843.

Constant changes in the curriculum changed the list of subjects studied: in 1844 statistics were excluded, in 1845 descriptive and analytical geometry were excluded and jurisprudence was introduced, in 1847 logic was excluded.

The admission of children of all classes to the gymnasium led to the fact that the percentage of nobles began to decrease. To increase this ratio in favor of children of noble origin, a significant increase in tuition fees was made. All this caused a revision of the subjects taught in the gymnasium: they stopped teaching statistics, logic, and sharply reduced the number of hours for mathematics and ancient languages.

The reduction of ancient languages seemed to the government necessary in connection with the harmful influences of the revolution that broke out in Germany in 1848. The Greek language was excluded from the curriculum.

The Gymnasium Charter of 1828, despite its bright class color, created, compared with the past, a much better environment for further prosperity and development.

4. Reform of 1849

During this time, the opinion was formed in society about the need to bring gymnasium education closer to real life.

On March 21, 1849, the following reform was carried out in Russia. The course began to be divided into general and special education. Starting from the fourth grade, all students were divided into legal and Latin departments. The first was preparing for the bureaucratic service, the second - for entering the university.

In 1852, the curriculum of the gymnasium was changed: the Greek language was retained in only 9 out of 69 gymnasiums, logic was excluded, the volume of teaching mathematics was reduced, and tuition fees increased. The awarding of gold and silver medals was introduced, and those awarded by them received the title of "Honorary Citizen".

In the mid-50s of the 19th century, 4 gymnasiums were most famous in Moscow. Among them is the gymnasium L.I. Polivanova, who set as her task "the upbringing of a new generation of intellectuals who think globally, able to rise to the proper height in all spheres ..."

Polivanov L.I. and his colleagues were convinced that the gymnasium should form an integral harmonious personality. Therefore, great attention in the gymnasium was paid to languages, Russian and foreign literature... An optional course on the history and theory of art was taught. A feature of teaching various disciplines in the gymnasium was the unity of developmental goals, all subjects were supposed to develop theoretical and figurative thinking among gymnasium students, creative imagination and memory, emotionality of speech, the ability to improvise.

At the Polivanov gymnasium, a program of work with gifted children was developed and operated for the first time. Personally oriented education and upbringing of people - original, talented, curious, active - were cultivated here. “Of children,” said LI Polivanov, “it is necessary to develop living personalities who are capable of choosing a job according to their vocation, to light up only with labor, because to work for the development of human personalities is a gratifying and lofty business”.

The very style of the gymnasium formed in the pupils the originality of thinking, independence, initiative, serious language studies, and literary creativity. In the 70s, a drama circle, widely known in Moscow, operated in the gymnasium. High school students took part in the organization of the Pushkin celebrations in 1880, attended meetings of the Society of Lovers of Russian Literature.

Gymnasium L.I. Polivanova raised a generation of new people - 20th century intellectuals. Among its graduates are poets V. Bryusov, A. Bely, artist A. Golovnin and many other famous people.

On May 30, 1858, the Regulation on Women's Schools of the Ministry of Public Education was approved. They began to open in largest cities Russia, and by 1874 there were 189. Women's gymnasiums had a seven-year course of study, and upon graduation, the graduates received a certificate of a home teacher. Subsequently, graduates of female gymnasiums could enter higher female courses without exams. The most famous in Russia were the Moscow Women's Gymnasium Z.D. Perepelkina, Tsarskoye Selo Mariinsky women's gymnasium, Moscow women's gymnasiums A.S. Alferova and L.F. Rzhevskaya.

A commission of the Ministry in 1878 proposed to reduce the course of study in women's gymnasiums, arguing in the conclusion that "women's education should be limited to such subjects that do not deviate female students from the main purpose ... and preserve the feminine qualities that adorn the family hearth."

5. Charter of 1864

Under the influence of the public in 1861, the system of gymnasium education began to soften, special commissions began work on drawing up a new charter, reflecting the needs of life and society.

In 1864, a new Statute was introduced and gymnasiums began to be divided into classical and real, the former, in turn, were subdivided into teaching with one ancient language and with two ancient languages. Those who graduated from a classical gymnasium were admitted to the university without exams, and those who graduated from a real gymnasium could enter higher special educational institutions and the physics and mathematics faculty of the university.

The unconditional all-class status of the gymnasium was proclaimed. Corporal punishment has been categorically abolished. Teachers have increased salaries with a fixed teaching load. The Pedagogical Council received the final decision on the admission of a teacher to the service.

Education in the gymnasium lasted seven years, in the gymnasium - four years. The lesson lasted 75 minutes, and from September 27, 1865 - 60 minutes. Gymnastics and singing were introduced into the number of subjects, the study of jurisprudence ceased.

As a result of the reform, the number of pupils in gymnasiums increased by 30%. Literary conversations and performances are permitted in the gymnasiums, Sunday schools are opened at the gymnasiums.

A circular of November 12, 1866 announced the introduction of uniform programs for all gymnasiums in Russia. The circular of September 21, 1866 stipulates the toughening of examinations.

6. Charter of 1871

Minister of Education D.A. Tolstoy appointed in 1866 a commission to develop a new charter, the purpose of which remained the revival of classicism in education. On July 30, 1871, the new charter of gymnasiums and progymnasiums was approved.

The charter recognized only classical grammar schools with two ancient languages. The training lasted eight years (the seventh grade was two years).

According to the new charter, the main importance was attached to the study of ancient languages; natural history was excluded; cosmography was replaced by mathematical geography; there was a decrease in the number of hours for calligraphy, drawing, drawing, history and the Law of God. Logic was reintroduced. A classroom tutoring system was introduced; educational functions were assigned to teachers; one teacher was allowed to teach different subjects; the director and the inspector were to conduct subject lessons in classrooms.

In subsequent years, the charter of 1871 was supplemented with new clauses:

in 1872 - new rules were introduced on examinations of students upon admission to the gymnasium, during the transition from class to class and upon graduation;

in 1873, the rules were approved that described their rights and obligations;

in 1874 - it was allowed to enter military service after completing six grades of the gymnasium;

in 1887, tuition fees were increased; a restriction on admission to the gymnasium of the lower class was introduced.

On May 15, the "Charter of real schools of the department of the Ministry of Public Education" was approved. According to this statute, real gymnasiums were renamed into real schools. In real schools, education, starting from the fifth grade, was carried out in two directions: basic and commercial. In the seventh additional class, the following divisions existed:

general
mechanical
chemical

Graduates of the real school could no longer enter universities, but students who graduated from the general department could enter a higher technical school, and those who graduated from the technical department could enter the service.

Since 1875, the gymnasium has become eight years old. Police supervision was allowed to monitor students, and students' apartments could be searched. It has become strictly compulsory for students to attend church and observe all church rites (fasts, confessions, etc.).

In 1887, tuition fees were increased again. On June 18, 1887, a special circular of the Minister of Education I.D. Delyanova limited the admission of children of the lower class to the gymnasium, with the exception of those "gifted with extraordinary abilities." Access to Jews was restricted.

This reform of secondary education, carried out by the Minister of Education D.A. Tolstoy, met a sharply negative attitude of society, since the curricula were borrowed from German newspapers and, naturally, the Russian language, literature, history, and partly the Law of God were unjustifiably relegated to the background. Foreigners were invited to teach the ancient languages, mainly Germans and Czechs, who did not speak Russian. The whole system of relations between the gymnasium and the family was reduced to the opposition of family and school. The reform was carried out very harshly, which naturally aroused general hatred of the school in the society.

The disadvantages of secondary education were formulated in a circular issued by the Minister of Public Education N.P. Bogolepov dated July 8, 1899, which spoke about the alienation of the family from school, inattention to the personal abilities of students, excessive mental work of students, inconsistency of programs, poor teaching of the Russian language, Russian history and literature, incorrect teaching of ancient languages, poor preparation of graduates and their inability to study at universities and higher schools. With this circular, the minister created a commission to prepare the secondary school reform.

7. Reform of 1905

Taking into account all these shortcomings and the development of industry in the country, the current training system was revised in 1901.

Since 1902, the teaching of Latin in the first two grades was canceled, and Greek in the third and fourth grades, it became an optional language. All classes were given access to the gymnasium.

The academic year in secondary educational institutions began on August 16 and lasted until June 1, i.e. 240 days.

Only textbooks approved by the Scientific Committee of the Ministry were allowed for use.

The examinations were held in oral and written form. After final exam issued a certificate of maturity.

In connection with the events of 1905, the Ministry introduced a new curriculum, according to which real schools received a more general educational character.

It was allowed to pedagogical councils to deviate from the current rules for pupils, to complete libraries with books, deviating from the list of the Academic Committee. The Greek language exam was canceled. Repeated examinations were allowed with the issuance of a new certificate.

In 1910, the new minister, Schwartz, presented a project in which he proposed a single type of school - a gymnasium.

Three types of gymnasium were established:

with two ancient languages
with one ancient language
without ancient languages, but with two new languages

Schwartz's project both strengthened classicism and went towards the bourgeoisie.

The new minister L.A. Kasso got Nicholas II to withdraw this project from the discussion in the Duma. Circular of March 28, 1911 L.A. Kasso increased the requirements for the discipline of students, banned gatherings, meetings. All this caused strong discontent in the society.

With the appointment of Count Ignatiev as minister on January 9, 1915, work began on collecting materials about the education systems in France, the United States and England. A new education system was considered, it was planned to introduce eleven-year education. All subjects were divided into general education and educational. Children of all classes from the age of 10 were admitted to the gymnasium. On December 28, 1916, Ignatiev was dismissed from service, and with his departure the reforms were abandoned.

The February Revolution of 1917 drew the line of gymnasium education in Russia.

Modern gymnasium education

Since the 80s of the XX century, a process of self-organization has been taking place in the development of education. mass school in new educational institutions searching for a new educational philosophy. Various types of secondary educational institutions appear in Russia increased level- lyceums, gymnasiums, etc., which are faced with the problems of correlating the relationship between goals, organizational forms, and the content of education.

In 1992, the Law was passed Russian Federation on the formation of three groups of educational institutions: lyceums that serve for specialized deepening, gymnasiums that provide in-depth education and general education schools... Today, students and parents are offered a choice of educational institution, educational profile, programs, textbooks, final exams and forms of education.

Supervisor: Mosicheva T.A.
teacher of history
gymnasium number 1517, Ph.D.

They tried to make education generally accessible in Russia even under Catherine the Great: in 1781 she founded an educational institution at St. Isaac's Cathedral, which laid the foundation for a whole network of schools, the development of which was legislatively enshrined in a decree of February 27 of the same year. Even before the development of public schools in Russian Empire educational institutions for girls and women appeared: in 1764 the Smolny Institute for Noble Maidens and the Educational Society for Noble Maidens were opened. However, not everyone was admitted to these two establishments, and they were of a “point” nature.

The first women's gymnasium appeared in Russia half a century after the public schools were transformed into gymnasiums, and the first women's university - 20 years later.

In honor of the empress

The decree on the establishment of the first women's school "for girls who come" (that is, not a boarding school) was issued in St. Petersburg on March 28 (15), 1858. The initiator was the "Department of Institutions of the Empress Maria", responsible since the end of the 18th century for charity in the Russian Empire. The department was born out of a network of charitable and educational institutions, which were founded by the wife of the Russian Emperor Paul I, Maria Feodorovna. Actually, hence the name - Mariinskoe.

At first, the Mariinsky Gymnasium worked in this building on Nevsky Prospect. Photo: Archive photo

It began its work a month later in a building at the corner of Nevsky Prospekt and modern Rubinstein Street. Now this building can no longer be seen in its original form, since it has been rebuilt twice since then. In the early 1870s, the institution moved to the former building of the St. Petersburg Commercial School, which was located at the corner of 13 Zagorodny Prospekt and 11 Chernyshov Lane, at Five Corners. The house was built in 1857-1858 and was completely new at that time. The current address of the house is at the corner of 13 Lomonosov Street and 13 Zagorodny Avenue.

The founder of the first school in St. Petersburg was the outstanding teacher Nikolai Vyshnegradsky, a supporter of secondary female non-class education and the compiler of the first Russian program in pedagogy. The trustee was the Prince of Oldenburg, head of the Institutions Department of the Empress Maria.

Everything is at home

The first Mariinsky School was designed for a seven-year educational course. It accepted girls aged 9 to 13 years. The program included the following disciplines: the Law of God, Russian language and literature, mathematics, geography, general and Russian history, natural science, French and German languages(additionally, for a fee - English), painting, handicrafts, and singing and dancing. At the end of their studies, the girls received the qualification "home tutor".

The students did not have a special uniform, they were only asked to dress neatly and without luxury. There were no punishments in the gymnasium, and at the same time everyone admired the high academic performance of the girls.

In the Internal Regulations of the Mariinsky School it was written: “The class should be as much like a family as possible.<…>The destruction of the family element in public schools kills the natural liveliness of children, darkens the gaiety given to them by God, destroys trust and love for mentors and mentors, for school, for the very teachings ... ". The rules drawn up by the Prince of Oldenburg seemed in places innovative for their time. In particular, he wrote: “The concept of order in the classroom is often completely misunderstood, and therefore requires a precise explanation. The true pedagogical order of the class does not consist in dead silence and not in the monotonous, motionless physical position of children; both, being uncharacteristic of the living nature of children, imposes on them completely unnecessary constraint, extremely tires them, destroys the childish trusting relationship between mentors and students.<…>And in prudent families they never require children to sit motionless and monotonous, so that they do not dare to laugh or turn to their elders about something that seems incomprehensible to them ... "

Anna Akhmatova attended the Mariinsky gymnasium in Tsarskoye Selo. Photo: Archive photo

In 1862, the Mariinsky School was renamed into the Mariinsky Women's Gymnasium, which by late XIX century has become one of the largest metropolitan gymnasiums(more than 600 students and about 60 teachers), however, in the first years of its existence, there was obvious discrimination - teachers in female educational institutions were paid much less than in male ones. The trustee of the St. Petersburg educational district wrote: "If schools exist, it is because teachers in them teach for an extremely insignificant fee, and sometimes for nothing." Only in 1865 the teachers of the Mariinsky were equalized in terms of "rank production and pension" with the teachers of the men's gymnasiums.

Later, at the Mariinsky gymnasium, two-year pedagogical courses for women with the study of human physiology and anatomy were opened, on the basis of which a pedagogical institute was created.

Gymnasiums march across the country

The opening of a female gymnasium in St. Petersburg was so long-awaited, its necessity was so clearly ripe that similar institutions all over the country began to be created on the model of the Mariinsky in the first years of the existence of the gymnasium. All new gymnasiums were subordinated to the same Department of Institutions of Empress Maria. In 1870, the first three classes were allocated in the "progymnasium" - their passage was considered completed primary education.

In a couple of decades, gymnasiums have spread throughout the country. Photo: Archive photo In 1866, there were already seven such gymnasiums in the capital. By 1894, there were 30 gymnasiums in the Russian Empire, popularly called "mariinsky", in which 9,945 pupils of all classes and religions over the age of 8 studied, and in 1911, 35 gymnasiums, the number of pupils reached 16 thousand. The charter, approved in 1862, operated in all gymnasiums until their closure in 1918, and from 1879 a single and compulsory curriculum was applied in all institutions.

Along with these public schools, private institutions were also opened - in 1870 there were seven in St. Petersburg, and four in Moscow. As a rule, education there was expensive, and only wealthy parents could afford to place their daughters there. In some, as in the gymnasium of Princess Obolenskaya, they admitted only according to the class principle - only children from aristocratic families.

After the October Revolution, the division into male and female educational institutions was abolished, and only from the mid-1990s they began to reopen. Of course, they are now called the Mariinsky only formally.