Gymnasiums liberal regulations approved

On November 19 (December 1), 1864 in Russia were approved “Gymnasiums and pro-gymnasiums regulations”. They regulated the principles of formal equality in secondary education for people of all estates and religions.

In accordance with the new regulations the gymnasiums divided into classical and practical ones.    Classical gymnasiums provided the scholarship that was based on ancient (“classic”) languages – Latin and Greek – study. In practical gymnasiums the scholarship classes were reduced giving way to mathematics and natural science study. Thus the reform was a sort of a compromise between the supporters of classical education and “real” knowledge.

The students graduating from classical gymnasiums were accepted to the Universities without taking any exams.  The graduating students from practical gymnasiums encountered difficulties entering Universities. They could continue their education mainly in technical institutions of higher education.

The regulations of 1864 had also established pro-gymnasiums – four classes’ educational institutions. Their programs corresponded to the lower school program in classical gymnasium. Therefore the school-leavers of pro-gymnasium could enter the 5^th grade of the classical gymnasium. 

At the head of the gymnasium was the director appointed by the public education minister. The second person in gymnasium administration was the inspector who assisted the director in educational work. The pedagogical councils and professors’ rights in educational programs choosing were significantly extended.

The new law introduced new tendencies of the domestic educational system: it declared the system to be accessible for all the estates and abolished corporal punishment. The progress however was relative because the regulations of 1864 had imposed such a high price for the education that the access to gymnasiums for the majority of the common people was closed. Besides in practice the most widespread became the type of non-complete classical gymnasium. Its program excluded the Greek language and in some provinces there existed only a practical gymnasium so that the local youth had no alternatives.

Gymnasium regulations of 1864 were the least durable among the issued ones in Russia – in 1871 it was replaced by another document.

Lit.: Высшее образование в России: Очерк истории до 1917 г. М., 1995; Пискунов А. И. История педагогики и образования. М., 2003; Рождественский С. В. Исторический обзор деятельности Министерства народного просвещения 1802-1902. СПб., 1902.

Based on the Presidential Library’s materials:

Сборник постановлений по Министерству народного просвещения. Т. 3. СПб., 1865. Стб. 1301–1350.