Russian School Research Articles

Linguistics and ideology in the Primer book of V. G. Goretsky and his colleagues

The article discusses the primer book (Bukvar), which was created in the USSR in 1969 and has been used as a permanent school textbook since 1982. It is still being used in modern Russian schools. The textbook is based on a modified sound analytic-synthetic method of teaching reading. Numerous reprints of the primer allow analyzing the changes in the linguistic component of the methods of teaching schoolchildren to read, as well as examining the evolution of the ideological aspect of this book.

Developing Statistical Thinking in Schoolchildren: From Theory to Practice

Since 2022, the school course «Probability and Statistics» has been taught as a compulsory subject in all schools in Russia, and questions on it are included in the Unified State Exam. However, international experience in teaching the basics of statistics shows that this is not an easy task. It includes not only teaching students how to prove the theorems of mathematical statistics and explain the calculation of the median and variance, but also contributes to the development of statistical thinking in them – the ability to make decisions based on the analysis of empirical data. According to the authors, the statistical community cannot and should not replace teachers who promote the teaching of statistics at school, but it has the opportunity to make a significant contribution to this process.The article presents the experience of the All-Russian School competition on statistics «Trend», the All-Russian teacher competition for the best practices in teaching statistics «We train the best!», with the support of the territorial bodies of state statistics in St. Petersburg, Kirov and Rostov regions; master classes for hundreds of teachers teaching statistics in grades 7–11. In addition, the article presents plans for organizing a competition on civil statistics aimed at developing skills in working with statistical data, as well as teaching the basics of statistical analysis, the use of visualization tools, and the formation of citizenship through familiarity with objective statistical information

Economic cyber-physical space: theoretical and methodological genesis and modern trends of formation and development

In this scientific study, the socio-economic and technical and technological features of the new economic and technological paradigm are high lighted. As a result of the analysis of trends in the development of the Industry 4.0 market and digital initiatives adopted in the world, the prerequisites for the formation of an economic cyber-physical space at the national level have been identified, and the relevance of the subject of scientific research has been substantiated. Based on the analysis of the evolutionary development of spatial economics, the research of scientific schools is systematized and theoretical and methodological schemes belonging to representatives of the German, French (continental), Anglo-Saxon and Russian schools of spatial economics are analyzed. As a result, the postulates of the economic cyberphysical space are developed and the author's interpretation of the concept of economic cyber physical space is proposed.

Distance Learning in Russian Schools during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Predicting Student Outcomes

The outburst of COVID had a major impact on the lives of people all over the world. While educational systems were developing plans, preparing teachers and schools for transition to distance learning, students were left in the situation which required them to organize their studies by themselves. This paper attempts to identify predictors of student learning outcomes, namely, students’ self-rated achievements, learning effort, and emotions, during the lockdown based on the data derived via the School Barometer survey in Russia. A total of 22080 students from 85 Russian regions participated in the survey. Relative weight analysis found statistically significant predictors for students’ learning outcomes: ‘learning effort’ and ‘negative emotions’’. The paper addresses such issues as student autonomy, teaching practices, and access to education.

Belousov, A. (2023). Culture. Literature. Folklore: Selected articles. Ed. by E. Belousova. Moscow: Novoe literaturnoe obozrenie. (In Russ.)

This posthumous collection of A. Belousov’s articles throws light on his scholarly interests. He was always fascinated by self-contained cultures that challenged the preeminent conventions of the day: Old Ritualist Orthodoxy, subcultures of various educational institutions (including Russian school folklore), as well as the provinces (in opposition to the capital city: while residents of the capital seek to slight provincials, the latter remain internally self-sufficient; in focus are provincials, people socially disenfranchised as a result of the Bolshevik revolution, as well as children pushed to the margins of the developing socialist state in L. Dobychin’s books). A doctoral student of Y. Lotman, whose structuralist studies caused seismic shifts, Belousov published his works in collections on secondary modelling systems, yet remained preoccupied with a human personality rather than verbal text as such. In his monographs, Belousov would outline topics, leaving others to do the research. Accordingly, an article by S. Neklyudov prefacing the collection is entitled ‘A Pioneer’ [‘Pervoprokhodets’].

About ways to form digital literacy of students in primary school

The article examines the tasks of primary general education in the light of the state-set goal of digital transformation of society. According to decisions adopted at the state level, by 2030 it is expected to achieve "digital maturity" of key sectors of the economy and social sphere, including education. In this regard, significant efforts are being made to create electronic educational resources and services. However, research shows that a full-fledged digital transformation of education is impossible without due attention to the formation of digital literacy of students already in primary school. The article analyzes the experience of developing digital literacy in primary schools in Russia and abroad, shows the need to introduce a course in informatics or digital literacy in primary schools for the successful use of created digital educational materials and services at all levels of education.

The tsarist policy of russification of education and the “unfavorable realities” in Bessarabia (second half of the 19th century)

The article reveals the process of radical transformation of the education system in Bessarabia in the second half of the nineteenth century, as a result of the tightening of the national policy of the Russian Empire and the intensification of the national-cultural Russification of the non-Russian peoples, the attempts of the Czarist authorities to modernize and homogenize the multinational Russian Empire, according to the model of European states. The author highlights two stages of the policy of Russification of education in Bessarabia. The first stage – years 1866-1872 – is characterized by the undermining of Romanian and mixed parochial primary schools (Romanian-Russian), the prohibition of teaching Romanian language at the regional gymnasium, theological seminary, county schools, etc, by creating a Russian primary and secondary education system in Bessarabia. The second stage – years 1873-1900 – is characterized by the attempt to radically transform the linguistic and cultural realities of the Bessarabian villages, causing the exponential growth of the number of Russian schools in rural areas, mass learning of the Russian language by the Romanian peasants in Bessarabia, the imposition of the Russian language not only in state institutions, but also in the privacy of families. The discussions in this regard within the Committee of Ministers of the Russian Empire highlighted the following dilemma: either the application of force to boost the policy of Russification, or the continuation of the policy of gradual Russification.Understanding the impasse that the Russian Empire would have entered, the authorities finally decided to achieve the goals of the policy of russification of the Romanians in Bessarabia, not through repressive methods, but „gradually and without violence”.

Current issues of creating a new world monetary system

Subject. This article considers the world monetary system, and proposals for conducting monetary settlements in modern conditions. Objectives. The article aims to develop a science-based approach to the creation of a new world monetary system and highlight the approach of the Russian school of economic thought regarding the formation of a new world monetary system. Methods. For the study, I used abstraction, deduction and induction, and some other general scientific research methods. Results. The article substantiates certain conceptual principles that should form the basis for a new world monetary system creation. Conclusions and Relevance. In the context of the Jamaica Accords malaise, it is necessary to form a new world monetary system through the agreement between the world economy countries, striving for mutually beneficial and equal cooperation. The results of the study can be useful in the context of currency and monetary settlements carried out in the field of external market relations.

Ethnic Relations between Lithuanians and Poles in the Eastern and South-Eastern Part of Lithuania 1960–1985

The article explores the manifestation of the Soviet national policy in the eastern and south-eastern part of Lithuania during the Khrushchev Thaw period and the Brezhnev Era of stagnation by focusing on the ethnic relations between Lithuanian and Poles who, in terms of numbers, dominated in the region. The situation in the eastern and south-eastern part of Lithuania (multi-ethnic population, geographical location, historical heritage, etc.) was very favourable for the implementation of the Soviet national policy. Based on the slogans of “friendship between nations” and “internationalism”, the concept of the convergence of the nations was realised. It manifested in closer relations between various ethnic groups, soviet republics and their population. As far as eastern and south-eastern part of Lithuania was concerned, relationships were promoted with neighbouring republics, firstly with Belarus, rather than with other regions of the Republic of Lithuania. Such policy led to the formation of a specific situation in Vilnius region. A certain part of the inhabitants of the region more often identified themselves with the Belarusian population and had a poor understanding of the life of other regions in Lithuania. This determined segregation between the Lithuanian and Polish communities, and alienation of the Poles. The Soviet authorities controlled ethnic relations between Lithuanians and Poles; any potential ethnic tension was immediately repressed and hardly ever surfaced. Ethnic disagreements between Lithuanians and Poles (due to different interpretation of historical past, etc.) were frozen for several decades and broke out only at time of the decline of the Soviet period. The position of the Polish population in the region was fuelled by attention and support from the Polish authorities and society. However, only relationships sanctioned by the Soviet authorities were allowed. Therefore any nationalist ideas from Poland were immediately stifled. Seeking faster indoctrination of the population, the Soviet authorities used the Polish language factor in the eastern and south-eastern part of Lithuania. The Polish population in this region was provided an opportunity to develop education and culture in their mother tongue, yet this was controlled and Sovietised. The support for nurturing the Polish ethnic identity by the Soviets formed a stereotype among Lithuanians that Poles were protected and the eastern and south-eastern part of Lithuania was deliberately Polonised. In the 1970s, when attempts to consolidate the society in the USSR were made on the basis of the Russian language and culture, assimilation efforts (Russification) strengthened in Lithuania. This process particularly affected the position of the Poles in the eastern and south-eastern part of Lithuania (Polish schools became Russian schools, the number of mixed marriages increased, the Russian language was increasingly used for communication, etc.). Such policies led to the assimilation of certain part of the Polish population in the region.

Научная рецензия на академическое издание: Актуальные проблемы грамматики и лексики славянских языков: сб. научных статей / отв. ред. О. А. Остапчук. М.: МАКС Пресс, 2024. 260 с.

The articles in this collection are based on presentations by Russian and foreign researchers at an international scientific conference dedicated to the memory of Professor Emeritus of Lomonosov Moscow State University and Doctor Honoris Causa of Charles University in Prague, the founder of the Russian school of Czech studies and long-time head of the Department of Slavic Philology A. G. Shirokova. The articles in the collection correspond to A. G. Shirokova’s multifaceted scientific interests: Czech and Slavic studies in synchronic and diachronic aspects, as well as comparative studies both within individual Slavic languages and in the case of comparing a particular Slavic language with a non-Slavic one.

“America fractured?“ The present and future of democracy, ideology and party system in the United States

The politics of the United States, both internal and external, and the analysis of its historiosophic foundations, topical subjects, trends and prospects of development have occupied a special place in the Russian school of international relations. On the one hand, interest in this topic has always been determined by its applied nature: for most of the 20th century, the USA was the main adversary of the USSR, and today the relations between the two countries are in a state of systemic confrontation, albeit of a different kind. On the other hand, with its history, economics, culture, ideology and politics, the USA as an experimental state and laboratory society has always been a field of scientific research and an object of intellectual reflection for researchers of all socio-humanitarian disciplines. All these works reveal different facets of American reality, but for Russian Americanists among historians and political scientists, those that allow them to find a key to understanding the driving forces of American politics and to forecast its development are especially valuable. The interview with leading Russian Historian-Americanist Dr. V.O. Pechatnov is an attempt to understand these key issues.

Protection of children’s health in the environment of Russian emigration and the USSR in the conditions of the spread of infectious diseases in the 1920s–1930s

Introduction. The preservation of children’s health is an important state task, the success of which is largely determined by the socio-cultural context, traditions in the application of preventive measures and the provision of medical care. In this regard, it is indicative of the comparison of measures to preserve the health of schoolchildren in the “Russian schools” of the emigrant environment (on the example of schools in the Czechoslovakia and the Kingdom of Yugoslavia) and Soviet schools in the 1920s and 1930s in the conditions of the spread of infectious diseases. Materials and methods. The data sources were published reports of Russian educational institutions in exile, which contain information about the health of schoolchildren, data on the health of Soviet schoolchildren were obtained from collections of analytical works of the specified period. Results. The prevalence of infectious diseases in children among Russian emigration and in the USSR was comparable, with the exception of measles, cases of which were not recorded in emigrant educational institutions in the Czechoslovakia and the Kingdom of Yugoslavia. As the main preventive measures, disinfection and examinations were carried out, vaccinations were made. The living conditions of emigrants contributed to the spread of tuberculosis, the incidence of which among children of emigrants was higher than among the European population. Soviet and emigrant doctors agreed that the fight against infectious diseases should develop at the level of organized collectives (schools, kindergartens). Conclusion. Thus, emigrant doctors largely followed the medical traditions and experience that had developed in pre-revolutionary Russia. Nevertheless, the living conditions of emigrants and the lack of funds became factors that reduced the effectiveness of preventive measures and medical care. An important difference was that the events in the Soviet Union were carried out within the framework of the state policy on health protection, and in the emigrant environment were of a local nature, determined as a rule by the capabilities of specific educational institutions.

Russian School Journal in History of Educational Journalism of Russian Diaspora in 1920s and 1930s

This article is dedicated to the analysis of the Russian School journal within the context of the development of émigré periodicals during the 1920s and 1930s. It presents the history and significance of the journal within the system of educational publications of the Russian diaspora. The study specifically investigates the role of Andrei Pavlov in the establishment and publication of the journal, particularly focusing on the financial support from various organizations in Subcarpathian Rus’. Utilizing archival sources, previously lesser-known facts from his biography are reconstructed. The mission of the journal, its structure, and thematic concerns are examined. It is emphasized that the editor perceived the primary objectives of the journal as combating the European spiritual crisis, discussing pressing issues in education and upbringing, providing methodological support for teachers and Russian schools in general, and objectively reporting on the state of Soviet education. Special attention is given to the authorship of the journal, which featured prominent representatives of émigré psychological and pedagogical science such as S. I. Hessen, V. V. Zenkovsky, G. Ya. Troshin, theorists and practitioners from the Czech school, as well as philosophers N. O. Lossky, I. I. Lapshin, and F. Pelikan. The conclusion drawn is that the Russian School journal continued the traditions of Russian pedagogical journals from the late 19th to early 20th centuries and served as a center for coordinating educational efforts among émigrés in the late 1930s.

Using an experimental technique to develop children's flexibility

The purpose of the study is to increase the level of flexibility in children 9-10 years old in physical education classes at school. Materials and methods: Quasi-experimental, non-randomized study. The pedagogical experiment was conducted based on the Ilyinskaya rural school in Russia from September 3 to December 27, 2022. The study involved students from the third grade in the number of 36 people. Children from the control group were engaged in the usual physical education program at school, and children from the experimental group, after a short running warm-up, performed a set of exercises to develop flexibility. To determine the flexibility indicators, control standards from the physical education program at school were used sit and reach tests, lateral spagat and shoulder rotation test with cane. Results. After the study, the indicators of children from the experimental group showed a significant increase in all 3 tests. The indicators of flexibility in the "Sit down and reach" test increased by 36.4% (p<0.05), the indicators of the "Lateral spagat" test increased from 12.5±2.1 to 8.9±1.9 (p<0.05), and the data of the "Shoulder rotation test" test increased by 18.7% (p<0.05). The children in the control group also improved, but not significantly, on all three tests. The indicators in the "Sit down and stretch" test decreased by 7.4% (p>0.05), the indicators in the "Lateral spagat" test decreased from 12.8±1.8 to 11.7±2.0 (p>0.05), and the data in the "Shoulder rotation test" test changed for the better by 9.9% (>0.05). Conclusion. If used a set of exercises to develop flexibility in physical education classes at school when working with children 9-10 years old, then their indicators will significantly improve joint mobility, passive flexibility, active flexibility, schoolchildren, physical culture, sensitive periods. Keywords: Physical Fitness; Motor Skills; Range of Motion, Articular; Child.

Russian federalism as a preimage of the future global multi-polarity

The article represents the author’s effort to extract a key national and cultural particularity of the Russian federalism model. Taking into account a historical experience of the federative development in Russia as well as the traditions of the Russian school of federalism, it is concluded that the key particularity of the Russian federalism is not concerning just an utilitarian distribution of powers and functions between federal and sub-federal authorities; it is first of all providing the equality of intra-societal dialogue, based on a reciprocal respect of the different ethnos and nations, forming together the multinational Russian people and, as a consequence, the united Russian state. In this context, the author arguing an idea that namely the Russian federalism model should be observed as a realistic preimage of the future multi-polarity in the changing world order.

Г.И. Челпанов — основатель первой психологической школы в России

<p>The article is devoted to an analytical review of the work of the Russian philosopher, psychologist and teacher Georgy Ivanovich Chelpanov and his scientific school. The article describes his educational, organizational, research and pedagogical activities in pre-revolutionary and Soviet Russia. Chelpanov created a system of higher psychological education, was the author of textbooks and scientific papers, defended the need for the development of psychology as an independent science based on a subject oriented methodology on theoretical and experimental basis. The Institute of Psychology at Moscow University became the place of formation of the first scientific psychological school in Russia. Its main idea is : psychology is an independent science with its own subject, research methods and areas of application in various fields of social practice. Chelpanov created the profession of a psychologist in demand in modern society, the process continues in the activities of his students and followers, the creators of new psychological schools.</p>

Inclusive education in schools in Russia and Kazakhstan: Attitudes and well-being of teachers as related factors in the formation of an inclusive environment

Inclusivity has become the cornerstone of many government policies for the development of education in the two largest post-Soviet countries, namely Russia and Kazakhstan. In this study, we focus on teachers’ attitudes towards inclusive education, taking into consideration individual and institutional factors that may promote or hinder the implementation of appropriate policies. The study was conducted in 2020 in Russia and Kazakhstan, and is based on a survey of secondary school teachers (N = 3444). The use of latent class analysis allowed us to demonstrate how exactly satisfaction with professional activity, assessment of support from colleagues and school administration, ideas about responsibility for the success of educational inclusion of different actors, professional burnout (both general and related to diversity), attitudes towards inclusive education of children with disabilities, and readiness to implement inclusive practices in professional activities are connected in the perception of teachers. Thus, the research presented in the article contributes to understanding the mechanisms and prospects for the development of educational inclusion in the post-Soviet space, taking into account the needs of teachers as key actors of inclusion, the satisfaction of which creates a stable support for the cultivation of inclusive values and practices of overcoming inequality in education.

Paying Tribute: Returning to the Story of the “Qur‘ān of ‘Uthmān

Objectives: The Qur’an occupies a central position in a religious and philosophical system that has had a significant and emblematic impact on human history, influencing Arabic studies worldwide. Such is particularly true for Russian Arabic studies, where the '‘Uthmanic Qur’an', with copies in Saint Petersburg and Uzbekistan, has played a crucial role. This study aims to honour our teachers and the Arab community of Qashqadarya, who continue to preserve their language and culture. Methodology: Synthetic, Comparative. Findings: The history of these manuscripts spans over twelve centuries, providing rich material linked to the fate of human lineages, nations, cities, peoples, and Islamic civilisation since its emergence in the Arabian Peninsula in the 7th century until the triumph of Islam. This Islam endured against the communist regime in the Islamic republics of the Soviet Union. The Russian School of Arabic Studies survived the 1917 Revolution due to its concentration on research areas that were of particular importance at the time. These included the study of Arabic sources on the history of the USSR territories and the living Arabic dialects used in the Central Asian republics. Such led to the publication of significant works on the language, ethnography, and history of the Arabs of Qashqadarya, whose ancestors brought the '‘Uthmanic Qur’an' from the Arabian Peninsula via the Silk Road to their land in Uzbekistan. Originality: Today, advanced research techniques must be used to study and analyse the '‘Uthmanic Qur’an' manuscript and reconstruct the origin, culture, and dialects of the Arab population in Qashqadarya, Uzbekistan. These include DNA analysis and modern linguistic methods based on big data and artificial intelligence technology.

The Relevance of Family Language Policy in Germany and Italy in the Development of Child Bilingualism: The Role of Natural Translation

The purpose of this paper is to analyse the role of natural translation in heritage speakers’ bilingual communication in relation to the family language policies (FLP) adopted to maintain heritage language in Italian and German multilingual families. In order to investigate this, in spring 2023, a semi-structured questionnaire was administered to both parents and children. The sample consists of 60 Russian-speaking bilingual HS living in Italy and Germany, where they have access to regular primary education and attend, in some cases, private Russian courses or schools. The informants do not receive specific translation training from or into the Russian language (they only practice translation at school from or into Italian/German), and they translate, in most cases, as an occasional activity, closer to the function of mediation or brokering. The role of translation in relation to FLP seems particularly relevant when comparing the two samples, considering different family compositions: mostly bi-ethnic in Italy and mono-ethnic in Germany. The survey showed that in daily life, both parents and children use translation, often as a specific kind of bilingual communication. In the Italian part of the sample, the strategy called OPOL prevails, and translation is a frequent activity in the domestic sphere. In the German one, instead, the separation of language use contexts is widespread, and all family members speak both Russian and German, making translation activity less relevant.

Критерии одобрения учебников по Закону Божию Училищным Советом Учебного комитета при Святейшем Синоде для школ Российской империи

This article characterizes the concepts of publicity and censorship, which are an integral part of social and political life. Control over these institutions was also important in the second half of the 19th and early 20th centuries, when church literature, particularly educational literature, was subjected to strict evaluation. Censorship committees were widespread throughout the Russian Empire, but one of the central bodies that was the censor was the Teaching Council of the Teaching Committee under the Most Holy Governing Synod. The article lists the criteria for approval of textbooks and manuscripts submitted to the Holy Synod. The article lists the criteria for approval of textbooks and manuscripts received by St. Synod. Most of the books were rejected at this stage because the censors saw various errors in the books, ranging from spelling and punctuation to spiritual errors that could distort the dogmatic side of Orthodox doctrine. One form of rejection or approval of a book could be a permission to allow the book into the libraries of certain types of educational institutions. However, at the provincial level, textbooks could be allowed to be distributed in schools or to the public with the blessing of the ruling bishop, the local censorship committee, or in the presence of a favorable review from the local representation of a popular church journal. For example, this was the Church Herald. Therefore, there was a dual state of affairs in the matter of censorship of books: on the one hand, there was a center in St. Petersburg, which received new manuscripts, and on the other hand, many little-known books in the capital were quietly used in Russian schools and sold in bookstores. In spite of this, local censorship committees and diocesan authorities, although they did not have the full experience of the members of the Study Committee, kept diligent watch over the emerging educational literature.