THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH, SATURDAY, JANUARY 25, 1947,
Russian children-their Government
education and
UNTIL 1944, Soviet children One of the best houses of the town
went to school at eight, but the age has now been reduced to seven: There are kinder- gartens for the younger children and creches for the babies.
In
upbringing
reprinted.
Has Left Much Undone
-by- “Candidus””
the
is always set naide for this purpose. however, do remain open; and they Russin
A certain number of churches, No Bibles had been printed in
ninice Tile it is the former palace are crowded. If you go into a until recently they could not be the revolution, and casus; In Kuibysoce lathe Chuchurch on a weekday, when people obtained even in second-hand book-TIE digest of a speech delivered we find for our embassy during the to be a few old women and one or year the Bible in Russian has been State for the Colonies, Mr. Creech li is building are at work, the congregation in nure shops. But I hear that in the lust recently by the Secretary of evacuation; und in Leningrad it is two old men, Just as in Britain. On the famous Anichkin Palace.
[Jones, contains a number of sugary a Sunday, or on one of the great These always seem to be in Once I paid
promises and, on the whole, must be surprise visit to feasts of the Church, you will find a
Just as I was leaving the coun- considered as on interesting piece of the chargo of people who are a provincial palace of Pioneers and predominance of younger people. try in the autumn of 1945 old Bibles Dollicat propaganda, The Hon.
was taken round all the classes. The fond of the children and under-mar tum was a little boy of 11 religion remains among the peasant cow shops.
It is difficult to Judge, how much began to appear in one of the Mos- Member can he believed when ho stand them, but, as in Britain, who gave a short lecture to his and working class. The leaders of language as different from Russlan was elected
Оп Old Slavonic-a | states—"The Labour Government there are not nearly enough comrades on the various types of the Church will tell you, with every as Middie English is from modern liberal principles to
to apply enlightened the taales of ereches and kindergartens, and warships and their uncs,
On another occasion
appearance of sincerity, that the English-they cost about a month's
commentable reconstruction." it would be wrong to suppose a meeting of the "history club" at of the palaces, has brought it nearer cost three or four times na much included
I attended revolution, by taking the Church out wages for a cook. In Russian, they policy-especially if Hongkong ia that most children go to them. the Moscow palace of
within that visionary Ploneers. the people. There were nine boys and
In these circumstances it is not about a year ago, a momentous an- The Russian Church still exercises girls,
sphere. I
because say visionary, and their job had been to inspects appent over the plous, and also surprising that the Bible Is the public statues in Moscow and sometimes over people who disclaim had been reading an historical novel
verynouncement ittle known. to find out about the people they all religion but feel that the beauty about Joseph in Egypt. She told me
emanated from One young woman Colonial Ofce to the effect that a represented.
form of local representation was to of the liturgy and the traditions of
be introduced in the affelal affairs that belongs to them in a peculiar when I zuid that in the Orthodox Church are something novelty, and was rather Impressed
the story as it li was the latest of Hongkong. A year is a long time. way as Russians.
our country everyone was tought these stories,
The practice of religion, on the other hand, is freely permitted. A seminary for priests is being started for the first Ume since the revolt-Price Control Department has been Hon, and the Patriarch of Moscow Operating to good effect during the has been given suitable quarters in
past year, but if building materials the former German embassy. The
had been considered as important as netivities of the Russian Church Nylon stockings Q good many receive publicity abroad, but very burdens would have been relieved." Religion is not publicly attacked. A point of view of the reconstruc- S far as rehabilitation from the The only form of what could possibly
Komo
41.5
The kindergartens, are much the In other countries. The children are washed and looked after and put to rest at the right time, and they are taught singing and dancing, games hd simple recitation,
They always seem to enjoy this. but they do not sing more melodious- ly than children of the same age in other countries.
The atmosphere is clean, but not unreasonably antiseptic,
The moral education of the children is taken very seriously, and they are brought up to believe that all good things come from Com- munism.
The slogan "We thank Stalin for our happy childhooct" is everywhere. In fact, the current moral notions are, to my mind, crammed down the children's throats a little too much,
fu
The school-leaving age is subject various exceptions and special rules, and I have never found out to my Own satisfaction what the minimum schooling .
Afterwards. I asked them to tell me what I should read myself about the period of Ivan the Terrible. The
Third instalment in this fascinating series of articles on how the Russians live By JOHN LAWRENCE Formerly Press Attache of the British Embassy in Moscow.
little at barne.
As
That Hongkong la pulling itself together is mainly due to the deter- mination of its private citizens, far as Government is concerned, however, there is much which t It is true that a should have done.
•
be called anti-religious propagandation of buildings is concerned, official Is the public lectures which are or- asalstance has been practically non- fairgunised in all big towns on elemen- | existent, and yet Government should
tary natural science,
have made n greater effort in this marshalled in such a way as to
Tho subject-matter is always connection, which affects so many
so vitally.
of the universa. suggest a materialistic explanation
One cannot help thinking that so zens often assume,
Young Soviet clti- much depends upon the men on the the rather spot. In other words, unless those nolve manner of the 1880s, that appointed to executive positions in sively shown that the universe holds, are men of outstanding ability, aft since Darwin it has been conclu-this governed-from-London Colony no riddle.
answer, given by a small boy, was The war han brought A
"Of course, the best, general ac-number of people to feel the need count is in Klyuchevsky, but this is now rather out of date: if you baptisms in the war years than at for religion-there have been more want to go into more detail vou any time since the revolution. would have to read Solovyov, and, young girl whose pagan name was One of course, you must look up the Venus got baptised and changed her original correspondence between Ivan name to the Christian "Vera." and Prince Kurbsky. The latent
of a revival of faith. Indeed, it is But it is an exaggeration to speak hard to sce how the Orthodox Church can be revived. To be a intellectual power in men's lives it needs an
view of Soviet historians is in Vip-
But, barring upheavals--such as those catised by the war-theper'a book." majority of children in the Soviet Union receive elementary education in the three It's and a mattering of something more.
To many villages there is only four years' schooling, but this does not necessarily mean that the children's education alops at that: often they on to a poarding school at a bigger centre,
receive some
children
Mickl secondary education, and large num- bers receive the
education, which finishes at 17.
been given af history was unt very The conception there children had different from what an up-to-date teacher would give one in Britain. Fconomic factors and class conflicts were stressed, but it would be hard The children spoke with pride of the to say that they were over-stressed.
development State."
our Muscovite
ان
Universities
these years' AFTER leaving school a big pro- portion of the young people go on to higher education.
*This may take various There are 30 universities-run more forms.
or less on Western Ines-which have about 50,000 students.
the
Those who leave school carly often receive further instruction at technical schools attached to torics.
fake-
Soviet children are, on the whole, keener to learn than ourz; under the ezara learning was hard to come by, and they still think it is a privilege to be allowed to learn.
Still larger numbers go to the in- dustrial aistitutes and other tech enl colleges, which, though they do dents up to what we should con. not give degrees, educate their stu- A lot of Ume is given to selence-sider a good university standard. aloo to poetry and literature.
Teaching Standard
THE teaching varles in quality. The standard is certainly not higher, and perhaps lower, than in our elementary and secondary schools, but the remarkable thing is much teaching there is.
how
planned
to
Already in 1940 there were 702 "higher educational Institutions" with 50-1,000 students. It is now
train 150,000
now "specialists" up to university stan- dard every year ("specialisis" in- clude most of what we would call the liberal professions).
basig which satisfies contemporary people, and it must become a Church of works as well
Christmas Trees
the promises of Mr Creech Jones will crumble an easily as the proverbial ple-crust. The system which guaran- tees some people jobs for the terms of their natural lives, regardless
as of faith, The State, however ISTMAS trees mean as much of ability is bad in principle and
in social work. gives it no opportunity of taking part
to Russian children
they
they
In
practice. No commercial institution do to ours: they light them with would last very long if it were com- candles and hang them with toyspelled to engage its employees for other just as we do. Every kindergarten life, Irrespective of whether be con has its Christmas tree, and parents prove to be efficient or not, million do their best to arrange something Government circles, age wins
ad- at home, too.
vancement. In commercial spheres the enterprising youth fights for it. INCIDENTALLY, I have to thank
There are, of course, important religions to sidered-about twenty Moslems; three million Jews; large Roman Catholic communities (mainly
Lithuanians and Poles); Lutheran Protestants in Estonia and Latvia; mnny Baptists an ather non- conformist Eects.
Indeed; one side of the Russian character has always tended towards sort of Protestant nonconformity, and Comununism sometimes makes its greatest appeal to this side.
Moslem Russia
SPENT some time travelling round Moslem parts of the Soviet Union, and it seems to generally agreed that in the period when religion was actively persecuted Islam escaped more lightly than Christianity.
And then there are the public Christmas trees in the Central House of the Trade Unions every year, winre there is a sort of standing children's party which goes on for weeks on
end.
Some of the nicest Christmas trees I have seen were in homies for or-
a number of correspondents for interesting letters and suggestions. Many subjects which come under the leading of reconstruction have been mentioned. Rebuliding and TC phans. These homes are excellently occupation of property; the removal run, and everything is done to make of dangers to navigation (submerged up to the children what they miss wrecks)
abound in the in home life. At one home which harbour; the need for adequate
harbour; the construction
which
I knew, the director, who was adored passenger transportation across
the
of
n
by the children, was sald to neglect modern airport; The modernisation the teaching in favour of creating of the Post Office-all matters of
home atmosphere.
He was removed and given a dit- ferent job-quite an important one and replaced by an able man of the regular schoolmaster type, who perhaps leaned too for in the op- posite direction.
Soviet Christmas trees are not produced for Christmas but for the New Year, and everything is done to make the children forget any religious associations.
urgency.
Housing 19 probably the most urgent problem, both in the domestic and commercial sense. Businesses which have existed for years And themselves unable to secure re-entry In 1940 there were 152 institutions
I did not go into any mosques. training industrial students. The
into their old premises, and are thus but 1 was told that many of them
seriously handicapped in starting up "industrial institutes" probably turn are open And When it was decided, after
that the priests
again. Residents who boasted homes the put more of the future
rulers
officiate freely. of revelution, to educate the
now_double-up in hotels and board- whole Russia than any other organisation.
ing houses. Of course, there may be population there WELS an acute The Urala Industrial Institute
I knew a great many Jews, but Once I heard some tiny children many a legal quibble in this shortage
con of teachers. Outsiders Sverdlovsk is a residential univer-
not a single one who und any interest at an orphanage singing $1 without any particular training were sity of engineering comparable
sweet neetion, but it must be remembered in religion. No doubt, there is Utile song about the Chiristanas tree that Government has the power to often pressed into the profession, and size with Oxford or Cambridge.
type of ghetto Jew from the old-and how it had come from the col-requisition anything it requires for the-best-pupils often-stayed-on-as--liked what I saw of the students fashioned
communities in the lective farin and other plous Com- itself or for the re-establishment of teachers or even taught younger and their teachers.
Ukraine whờ takes his religion munist sentiments. The people of
essential trades. It would surely be children while they themselves were the Urals and Siberia are somehow seriously, but the intellectuals are
Justified in learning.
ejecting
those who, tougher and more outspoken an atheists. They seem to feel that
during the Japanese occupation, their faith has caused all their the Muscovites; in rather like the calamities by making them different,
could have acquired during normal many training
secured premises which they novor colleges which turn out fully quall-difference between London and, the and they therefore turn on religion
But the supply
North, hag
with unexpected bitterness.
There are now
led teachers. not yet caught up with the demand,
ut
In
The girls go in for much the same. so that the Soviet Union suffers from subjects as the men, and include classen that are too large-even moren number who are studying heavy than we do.
engineering.
There is also a great shortage of do not think this is due to any school buildings, and one often Ands, difference in female human nature. for instance, that the younger but simply to the fact that in the children are taught in the mornings Soviet Union the need for trained and the nider in the afternoons. people is so great that there is no School booits and writing muterinks time for sex prejudice. If a girl were no short during the war that
is a qualified heavy engineer she some schools were reduced to learn- gets the job-und keeps It. ing by role.
NEXT SATURDAY: The Russians' Houses And Their Clothes
times,
WILLIAM HICKEY
Weather
One of the best things about So- UNCERTAINTY
viet universities is that it is possible
In the early years of Soviet rule, the best indication of the aims the roof on
people who receive higher extucation Will rain set in before builders get
conceived.
Was
of
He has
ceremoniat,
or
'word
were
(Continued on Page 8)
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CANADA BUILDING SHIPS FOR CHINA AND FRANCE
Orders totalling more than $50,000,000 are being placed In Canada for the construction-of-new-ships- which are urgently needed by France and China, Mr C. R. Gallow, Acting Canadian Trade Commissioner in Hongkong, an- nounced to-day.
Deluge Will Cover Japan,
Says "Goddess"
The latest French Govern ment contracts, which have already been awarded between six Canadian shipyards, call for the construction of 13 cargo vessels and 140 barges at a total cost of $35,732,825.
are
Most of the vessels and barges ordered by France will be completed A big flood, comparable to the before the winter of 1947. Five of of British Prince's Gate thawed visibly to the Wallpaner at their house in the Biblical deluge, is about to strike the cargo vessels, however, need not Boys and girls are taught together for an older person to take a de-money, and Colonel IRVING
costs us a lot of friendly Informality of American London suburb of Colney Hatch was and swallow up the whole Tokyo-be finished before 1948. at the elementury sclwols, but since gree, and this helps him to move up PARKHURST KRICK is
feaf-patterned, faded and drab and Yokohama area, warned Yoshiko 1944 they have been separated for in his career.
Martinis followed medalling with they do not like the price the
Mr sure equal speed and greater profussion, quality of present wall decorations). Nagaoka, 42-year-old, self-styled arrangements for placing the French Gallow explained that all lessons
It is hard work in at the secondary schools, addition to earning one's living, but he can save a great deal by ex- an admirable idea which could only So her husband has picked out each living goddess of the "Jikosama" Government contracts with the six though they gomes. This change is approved by do it.
meet for play and it is surprising how many people plaining weather forecasts in be Improved in reverse.
leaf with fresh paint blending the cult, whose followers include at shipyards in Canada had been made both teachers and parents; it makes
There were 22 bashful Britons colours as fancy pleases. The tremendous number of young simple language. for botter discipline.
variegated from many-ribboned There are 600 leaves to one pane!
least two Japanese notables.
by the Canadian Commercial generals in uniform to girl clerks in and 22 panels to one room; it took
Corporation, 4 crown company muny revolutionaries expected to which the Soviet Union has set it-
Can a film company their smartest huto and some very him six weeks to do haif.
Yoshiko, who is "enthroned" in established by the Canadian Govern- build a new heaven and a new earth.
assured of reasonably good. ordinary men in dark suits. Had
But his wife writes proudly to tell and whose background is highlighted the Dominion on behalf of foreign Kanazawa city in northern Japan, ment this year to make purchases in The older generation tended to be as high priority in. Soviet plans, electric fars be on the market in uliced anywhere, but they
self. This programme of training their expensive stora? Should new demobbed would have passed un-
weather to go 'un location with all the citations not been read out the of "the pleasure it has given me." against the Bolshevile, who there-
by a mysterious precipitation from governments and purchasing mist fore relled the young, mud did and there can be little doubt that March or la it safe to wait until heroes America delighted to honour.
a cliff which cured her alling foot sions. everything they could to break the the Government intend to achieve a July? Will it be an "open" spring.
years ago, sald he had long been power of parents over their children roter all-round progress nover yet with farmers suddenly wanting fer-As the
ON
Nanceling for the first time that patient with the Japanese people, The Ming Sung Industrial Com- The family was regarded as a
18 the newly-appointed Ambassn- tremendous Falstaman Agure, grent trials...
but this time she meant to deal out | pany Ltd., whose present shipbuild- bourgeois institution
The young men and women who tilisers?
hns not yet arrived in the Deputy-Speaker of the Dall, a
ing commitments in Canada which hostile
London, decorations and come out of the Soviet "Institutes 10 the revolution,
being guaranteed by the Central. pinned London friend of mine thought some answers 10 1 jot of marriage was thought to concern no of higher education" arc, as a rule, problems
The "goddess'" professedly devout Government of China, is also arrang-: like that,
on by CLAYTON LAWRENCE formality necessary, so gave a stin followers. Include Futabayuma, 330 ing for the Dominion to build vessels, news which one but the husband and wife, in well grounded in their subject, alert, would be equally valuable to trans BISSELL, the military attache.
little bow and said politely: "Good pound former Idol of millions of required school, too, the encouragement
public spirited, and modest.
morning. Sir."
for operation On the Squarely built, beaming cordiality, They port services, nationalised or not.
Japanese wrestling fans,, who de- Yangtzo. the younger generation sometimese renewed my bellef in the fu This shock-haired colonel, eager this lwo-star general is tough. Bls-
BAMON O'NEILL blinked, said Jectedly retired from the ring when went to fantastle lengths, andre of the Russian people when of- and fluent, was one of the D-Day ll commanded the 10th U.S.A.A.F. nothing, but fumbled in a pucket of
The Americans arrived with baseball. Through the Canadian Export meteorology in the California in campaign, started the incredibly difduced a grubby card. It rend
In the black days of the Burmahis egg-stained waistcoat and pro-
Credits Insurance Acl, Mr Gallow Another is Wa Ching-yuang, cele-sald, Canada had agreed to establish stitute of Technology. Now he has over the Himalayan Hump to China. have a drink."
and courageous ferry service "Cut out the nonsense and
brated" Oriental chess master, who a $12,750,000 credit in favour of the met the goddess" In an air rald Ming Sunt Industrial Company Lid, "commercial weather" laboratories in New York and London, plans the Union Jack, the general stood to Now flanked by Old Glory and
shelter during the B-20 raids on- and a lorge part of this credit will Tokyo, after which He announced be used to linance the proposed ship- rigidly excluded world-wide organisation,
that he would forsake chess forever building progromme. The Chinesa, from the schools and univer
attention in the 'faded gilt drawing sities, though there is no longer any TALKING at the Savoy recently, room. Pinkly facing him, the gon-THESE sentiments in the Head and devole, himself to Yoshiko's company Itsek will atheistic propaganda,
contributo Teachers' Review, are admirable,
"divine light" religion.. he, made no claim that long Eces were ushered in one by one
£2,500,000 additional in cash. It plays very little part in the exact science, but is sure he can pre-mednis, gripped a warm handshakeitusion of slang and
range weather forecasting is yet anwhile an alde read the flamboyantly. If unexpected.
The "goddess" has been acting "Professors are horrified at the queer over since she fell from a cliff 205 feet in length, six smaller chips. Ilves of the intelligentsia, but there vide "n sound and accurate guide to
worded citations. He pinned the
The Chinese programme will call for the comiruction of three vessels is still much simple faith among what the weather is likely to be and the next in the waiting crocodile to the language; yet how
journaleso at the age of 23 and then, awaking 2: poorer people-particularly in the
moved up.
could from a trance, announced that the of 107 feet, and material and English be enriched without it?" WHEN the children reach school
countryside.
At home in California Krick "foro- age they join the Ploneers a more
Before the revolution Russia had cast a rain-soaked pitch for a key spoke for 34 seconds with great sin- Essell gonged 22 in 10 minutes,
had talked with Christ and Buddha. machinery required for the building So many get DAs and D.Ses by However, she has succeeded over of three tugs and forty lighters. The sort of Boy Scout, Girl Gulde or- the majority are now closed-if they months ahead. The game was away then led the way to the Martinis.
sheer memory works. As far as life since in making more than a living. Ming Sung interests also hope to churches than were needed; football match to be played two cerity on the value of co-operation, goes they are often bores and Ignora- ganisation.
The majority cannot even
purchase in Cahadn' a, · substantial are interesting they are made into and nobody could In each town there are "houses of miscums, and if not, they are used in there in November. But the ever remember
use their knowledge, they
She formerly lived in a temple in quantity of harrow-gauge, mining, the Pioneers, and in the big towns a scum aues or lowed to a home team turned the hoses on their TIME, a little each day; patience, bells and they definitely cannot claim cided, however, that country life.
cannot Tokyo, reputedly purchased for over railway equipment. apply it; Just 1,000,000. de- own ground and trained in mud.
all you have got and then sorae; culture." They won!
mix well with a dash of skill and a few 4d, pots of water-colours,
That HYNESS of fidgety Britons sum-WANSDROUGH'S recipe for new moned to the last of last year's wallpaper for old, that and a hus- le Min ELIZABETH
presentations of war-earned gongsband who shares "an old-fashioned at the US Ambassador's house in love of homo."
children would solemnly sit in judgment to despair. tupe brought me
ment on their teachers.
But as the revolution settled down
into
State system, the need for
discipline was felt ever more strong-
ly and nowadays Soviet school-RELIGION
children are expected to obey
teachers at least as much as in other countries and are taught the same standards of school belinvlour,
Youth Clubs
Religion
Not long ago. I took a distinguished visitor to Westminster
question
and cities there is always a central down. "palace of Pioneers," where the chil- dren go out of school hours for Soviet Informal Instruction in whatever Abbey. His first
was: happens to interest them, and for col- "What is this place used for?" and
·lectiva netivities such as plays, dun- he was surprised to learn that it was
eing, intiale and recitation,
still a church..
f:,
In-
muses.
let's
LIPPED by render STANLEX II.
MORGAN:
Shop manageresa or assistant wanted; must be able to smile
suited her botter when heretle ceeded in obtaining an a
on audience, agents instated on collecting the whereat the goddess immediately balance of the down payments,
Japanese
thousand Yoshiko does not succeed in con- tiver when we both were listening.
recognised 1. klm-"three reports indicate that years ago on the brim of the Ganges verting everyone.
One prospect recently lavished never returned to...
to Buddha proach". The visitor,
gifis upon the "goddess" and puc-, United Press
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