Religion and Education

Religion

When the Czar ruled the Russian Empire, the state religion was the Greco-Russian, or Orthodox Catholic. The Czar was looked upon almost as a Supreme Being by the people and was the chief power over the Church until the revolution took place in 1917. The other divisions of the Church were the Holy Synod, which was the governing board, and the procurator, its chief officer. All had autocratic and extensive powers. Most of the larger churches and monasteries of Russia possessed whole fortunes in decorations and furnishings, including priceless antiques used only on ceremonial occasions. In Moscow, alone, at the present time there are about 380 churches. A few years previous to my visit the number was higher than this for some have been dismantled as being hazardous or to make way for new building projects. When the sun shone on those remaining, with their pineapple domes towering in the sky, they cast off different colors or glowed like the sun itself.

The institution which suffered the most from the revolution was the Church, perhaps the greatest of all institutions, save Capitalism itself. The communists consider the Church as their enemy because of its control by the former Czar and because of its policy of suppressing free thought, to hold-the people down during the revolutionary struggles and before that time. Therefore, it was only natural that they used extreme measures in dealing with the Church in order to free the people of its influence.

This was done partly by the expropriation of all church property along with private property. In some cities and communities, however, where the people wish to contribute to the maintenance of a church, they are permitted to do so. But they must bear the burden of a very heavy taxation. Propaganda is constantly being carried on against religion. Anti-religious museums have been set up throughout Russia exposing the many mystical frauds practiced by the Church besides exposing religious theories.

One of these frauds used a great deal on the peasant class was that of the priests performing religious stunts in order to bring on rain. Many times during drought periods the peasants would urge the priests to pray for rain so as to save their crops. The priests took advantage of their ignorance by requesting them to contribute more wealth to the Church for bringing on rain. They made an elaborate affair out of these ceremonies by parading up and down the fields with large ecclesiastical banners,muttering prayers. It was the policy of the priests to put on the ceremony only when the barometer indicated a sure sign of rain!

All religious instruction for the younger generation is forbidden outside the home. I saw religious services being conducted in many of the churches and some with quite large attendance, but the most striking thing was the absence of young men and women. It must have been a great relief to some young folks not to be compelled to attend long drawn out and uninteresting services. And most of the members of the younger generation to whom I talked favored the government's action toward religion.

One of the greatest reforms the government introduced in dealing with the religious question is the abolition of Jewish persecution. This persecution was one of the severest measures carried on in the days of Czardom.

The people may be humble and illiterate, but how could they help but be otherwise when they were given no opportunities for education or for bettering themselves. It is true also that the Russian workers and peasants are poor. But how could their position at present be anything else, -since they are the ones who suffered the most under Czardom and Capitalism? Yet they are trying hard to throw off, the remnants of Czarism and Capitalism. The centuries of pacification and contentment preached by the priests, who on their part lived a life. of comfort and luxury, were paid for by such teachings. It was not uncommon for the Czars of the old Russian Empire to appropriate millions of rubles each year to build churches, whereas the masses lived in homes hardly fit for keeping cattle in. The old thatched roof houses of the peasants are almost non-existent now. It was only along the Volga, in isolated spots, where I saw a few of these old conditions. The new government is taking every means to show its people how to build better homes and to help them financially in the way of loans. With these beginnings there are naturally still unsanitary conditions, but the Soviets are trying to eradicate these by education and propaganda.

The Church, then, was bound to go when the wealthy and ruling class was cleaned out of Russia. All the "hokum" of preaching "pie in the sky" and "milk and honey" was transferred down on the earth by the Soviets. For the Church's promise of a peaceful and enjoyable life after death the Soviet government has substituted a better one-a promise that these things will come true on earth. The idea here is to have the good things of life now and make the present life more liveable.

With all indications pointing toward a betterfuture, the Russian people can now see a new light, which I think will lead to a greater life when more knowledge of the modern world is put into practice. Their nation-wide educational program, on the largest scale hitherto unknown to the world, will go a long way toward accomplishing this.

Is Leninism a religion? Some say it is. I am anxious to know if it is myself. If the fact that Lenin's picture pushed out the ikons from the workers' homes is any indication, it may be called a religion. All over the U. S. S. R., in factories, mines, public buildings, schools, and homes, here are to be found pictures of Lenin. Many streets and squares have been named after him. But whether Leninism is or is not a religion, its inspiration, Nikolai Lenin, is even today an immortal figure.

The Anti-Religious Museums

One of the anti-religious museums which I recall most vividly, was in Nishni-Novgorod, perhaps because I had so much time to spend there with the ten hour wait, due to engine trouble on the steamer I was to take down the Volga. This museum was furnished with about every kind of religious paraphernalia imaginable. These furnishings were well arranged and exploited to the fullest extent, of course adversely. One elaborate illustration was that of the Bible's creation of the earth. The endeavor herewas to exploit this conception and prove its fallacy. Another exhibit included an altar completely furnished to illustrate the immense amount of wealth expended for ceremonies.

In the city of Kiev in south Russia the old Lavra Monastery has been converted into a museum. The main cathedral has been well preserved with all the fixings and the usual anti-religious propaganda signs attached. The whole monastery is situated on a high hill over-looking the Dnieper river which must have been a wonderful site for this in the olden days. Beneath this massive site are many underground passageways leading to different chambers. The bodies of monks are buried in these catacombs. Some, upon close examination, could be seen to be made up of different bodies. I remember of one having two different kinds of hands. What the object was I could not learn, only that everything was just as it had been found. I could not see either where there were any advantages to the Soviets in deliberately perpetrating such a fraud. Only a few of the bodies were exposed.

On top of the ground the buildings of the monastery grounds were occupierd by workers. The quarters of the priests and monks now belonged to those who at one time contributed to their support!

Education

I have already mentioned how the orphans of the Homeless Children's institution are educated by applying theory to practice-this system in some respects is like the Dalton Plan, developed by Miss Helen Parkhurst, who conducted experiments both in the United States and England. The Plan substitutes the laboratory for recitation, that is, practice for theory. The government sent educational experts to make studies in other countries which were supposed to have the most advanced systems of education and the information obtained was used in working out the Soviet plan.

At first the results of the new scheme of Soviet education were below expectations, but with changes in a period of several years after the establishment of the system, conditions began and have continued to show improvement.

Under the Soviet regime educational appropriations are a score more than what they were under the Empire and every year the government is spending more money to expand this public institution. The difference between the Czar's empire and the Soviet republic is evident. There is no effort great enough to satisfy the latter. It even reaches as far as the Red Army for every soldier must know how to read and write before he is given permission toreturn home. And every worker is required to serve time in the Red Army; this includes some military training for the women. As members of the Red Army are recruited from all walks of life the largest majority come from the peasant class which are the most illiterate. These are the ones who receive most of the educational training while in the service because of their former status.

It is not uncommon for members of unions to pledge themselves to teach at least one person to read and write. Co-operation? Decidedly. With greater facilities and finances for education it will not be long before students in other nations of the world will be looking toward the Russian institutions of learning in Leningrad, Moscow, and Kharkov just like we now look toward Paris, London, Munich, and Vienna.

There was some progress made in popular education during the period just before the Revolution, but it was not until afterwards that a complete change took place with a system of general education established by the Soviets. In all the constituent republics of the U. S. S. R. are separate Commissariats for Education, thus giving each nationality the freedom to develop its own culture in its own territory.

The Commissariat for Education includes the following departments : The Administrative-Organizing Board, dealing with organization, finance, and construction work; the Chief Board for General Technical Education, which is over the pre-school and school education of children; the Chief Board for Technical Education, directing purely technical educational work; the Chief Board for Pre-School Education and for Educational Work among adults; the Board of Education in the Non-Russian Languages; the State Scientific Council which, makes studies of educational methods; the Chief Board of Scientific and Art Institutions directing not only scientific and art institutions but controlling the State theatres, circuses, and musical institutes; the Chief Board for Literature and Publication, con trilling and directing the "kind" and printed publications; the State Publishing Agency; the Managing. Board of the State Cinematograph Enterprises ; and the Supply Board caring for the educational equipment. However, the entire system of education in the U. S. S. R. may be divided into three divisions, general, technical, and adult.

The general school system of the Soviet Union is divided into two standards, inter-connected. All children from eight to twelve years of age enter the first standard where they are taught the elements of knowledge and manual trades. And even beforeentering this standard there is a pre-school training which educates the children from the age of three to seven years. Those in the kindergarten and crèches attend from six to eight hours a day while those in the seven year old classes are taught in a group by themselves. In the second standard the age of the pupils are from twelve to seventeen years. Here they receive training on general and technical subjects. From this standard, pupils who are qualified and show inclination can continue their studies in a higher educational institution where they undertake some special field of study.

Then, there are the scientific institutions and academies where research work is conducted and where those students showing special ability can carry on with their work. Besides this system of public education there are many other schools that care for the education of adults.

It can be said that education in Russia is not only cultural but practical. One encouraging element is the success of the schools in the liquidation of adult illiteracy. At this writing, the plan for nation-wide compulsory education for all children up to the age of eighteen has been completed in the Leningrad district.

Yes, the Soviets even maintain schools for training in the opera, concert, and ballet. They are considered so important from a cultural standpoint by the educational officials that they rank first in financial appropriations. The boys and girls who show extraordinary talent and adaptiveness are placed in special schools and given particular training.

Strange as it may seem Soviet Russia produces more books than the United States. In one single year Russia produced 242,000,000 copies whereas the number in America was only 80,000,000, almost five times as many books as are produced in this country. And it shows the Russians are the world's greatest readers. And to think in 1912 (under Czardom) there were only 34,630 books published in the entire Russian Empire 1 The people cannot afford the expensive books so most of them are bound in paper covers and printed on low priced paper, to be sold at prices from three to twenty-five cents.

The circulation of the Soviet newspapers is now about 20,000,000. Quite an increase when in 1928 it was only 1,833,000. The magazine circulation figures are greater than the newspapers. There hag been a continual improvement in the quality of all newspapers published, in every respect, but principally in matter and form.

Our newspapers devote much space to "write-ups" on this or that capitalist's daughter making herdebut. As if the rank and file of America cares about these "nit-wits." Or there are items about some "big-shot" being ill or just returning from Palm Beach. The press caters to the capitalist class and almost completely ignores the workers.

This holds true in every nation of the world except Russia. There the papers tell only of the workers in the factories and about their lives. When a worker gets elected to a high official position he gets the same big story which the bourgeois would get in the capitalist press. Quite a contrast!

Even the library system has shown a continued growth with nearly twice as many traveling libraries (80,000), which visit different community centers at regular intervals, as those located in schools, cities, trade unions, and villages.

Chapter Nine