Some Aspects of Education in the Soviet Union

Radio Record, Volume V, Issue 45, 20 May 1932, Page 22

Some Aspects of Education in the Soviet Union

OUR talks to be given by. Mr. A. Salmond, M.A., of Knox College, Dunedin, at the invitation of the Workers’ Education Association. For readers interested in the subject and desirous of making. a fuller study, ue following books are recommend1, "Industry and Education in Soviet Russia," by J. G. Crowther. 2. "The Challenge of Russia," Sherwood Hddy. 3. "Bducational Policy in Soviet Rusgia,’ Huns and Hessen. 4, "Wducation in Soviet Russia," Seott Nearing. 5. "Russia To-day and Yesterday," Dr. H. J. Dillon. 6. "Humanity Uprooted" and "Red Bread" (2), Maurice Hindus. %."The New Russia," Dorothy Thompson. Questions which might well be kept in mind during the series are:1. What is the ideal of education in the Soviet Union? 2. What are the methods which are being used for its attainment? 8 What is the underlying philosophieal basis upon which the new education is being built? 4, In what aspects of theory or practice of education could we-(a) Teach

the Soviets? (b) Learn from the Soviets? The approach to the subject to be made in the first talk on May 17 will deal with education in Russia before the Revolution. A brief review of the attitude of the old Russian State toward the Russian State school system will bring out the Tzarist theory of education, and will indicate to some extent what steps were taken to educate the class destined for State service. Commencing with the measures of Hmpress Catherine in 1774, the broad outme

lines of progress will be traced up to the work of the Duma in 1917. % The second talk will deal with the principles of education in Soviet Russia. As Lenin is almost worshipped in Russia, his conception of education is dominating theory and practice. An attempt will be made to bring out the main stresses. In the third talk (June 14) the measures which have been taken to meet the tremendous need-the abolition of illiteracy-will be discussed. The school, its subjects of study, its meth- > SEE oy

ods, its relationship with industry and, agriculture will be considered here. In the fourth talk (June 21), what is known as by-education will be explained. Two main elements of by-education-the cinema and the youth movements-will be dealt with and an estimate given of their educational significance,