Reports on the results of a survey of more than 1200 Russian adolescents concerning the conflict between work and education commitments. Reveals that almost one in four students work parttime, mainly in unskilled jobs, to purchase fashionable goods. Discusses implications and possible responses to this situation. (MJP)

Presents the conclusion of the analysis of the massive educational survey done in Moscow (Russia) in 1991. This section largely focuses on students' parents' and teachers' attitudes towards the relevance and benefits of education. Participants are identified by socioeconomic and demographic characteristics. (MJP)

Traces the history of the idea of a general education' from the reforms of the 19th century through the Soviet system to its current incarnation. Originally conceived as an investment in the economic future of the country, it developed into an educational counterweight to the growing professionalization of instruction during the Soviet regime.…

Outlines the history of private education in tsarist Russia. Follows its development from a smattering of tutors for children of the elite to the establishment of boarding schools and subsequent government inspectors. Discusses the contrasting educational philosophies and personalities involved in these institutions. (MJP)

Presents a laundry list of problems and difficulties facing elementary and secondary education in post-Soviet Russia. These include truancy, delinquency, increased infant mortality, debilitating health problems (both mental and physical), and ethnic conflicts. Follows this with a brief discussion of corresponding efforts by the state to correct…

Distinguishes between alternative schools (where a particular educational program is adhered to as a matter of faith) and innovative schools (where there is a constant search for better approaches). Maintains that the innovative approach has become more accepted in Russian schools, allowing teachers greater freedom and increasing their…

Provides an interesting overview of recent educational initiatives in Tatarstan. Tatarstan is an autonomous republic within the Russian Federation. A multiethnic society recently emerging from four centuries of Russian domination, the Tartars have initiated broad sweeping educational reforms. These include native language instruction, increased…

Presents an example of current Russian cultural criticism. Articulates a diatribe against the current state of Russian culture and its influence on that country's youth. Condemns the influx of Western influences, sex and violence in the media, and the glorification of a drug culture through popular music. (MJP)

Examines the current state and the consequences of unemployment in Russia. Discusses those industries hardest hit and the psychological damage inflicted. Maintains that education is no protection against the loss of a job and little help in finding a new one. (MJP)

Presents an interview with Russian Deputy Federal Minister of Education, V. K. Batsyn, concerning the significance and necessity of history instruction for students. Discusses the nature and purpose of history instruction under the old Marxist regime and describes the new methods and approaches being implemented. (MJP)

Analyzes the results of a study of Russian college students attitudes towards politics and citizenship. Reveals that, although the students express support and admiration for free market reforms and democracy, they are decidedly indifferent to the political process. Correlates these attitudes with students' positions in campus organizations. (MJP)

Examines the relationships between students and families in Russia as they adapt to a new society. Contrasts traditional and current roles of socialization among various social classes. Includes seven tables of statistical data revealing the dichotomy between the new business class and those employed in the public sector. (MJP)

Reviews the career and contributions of N. A. Menchinskaia, from her tutelage under Vygotsky in the 1930s, to her emergence as one of the Soviet Union's preeminent educational psychologists. For over 50 years, Menchinskaia researched knowledge acquisition and cognitive development. Discusses her major theories and places them in the overall…

Reviews materials developed by the now-defunct Russian President's Coordinating Committee for Handicapped Affairs. Reveals a system barely meeting the needs of its handicapped citizens and hampered by inadequate accounting and reporting. Provides a broad range of information on the handicapped in Russia based on approximate data. (MJP)

Describes a course in ethics for younger children taught in a gymnasium school in the Russian city of Ufa. Provides a fascinating look at the conception and implementation of ethical instruction in contemporary Russia (students assume the role of head of the family and devise "taboos" to maintain peace and harmony). (MJP)