Past: Our school was known as a leading educational institution

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Tuition at the gymnasium was paid and the cost exceeded that in state educational institutions. Olga Petrovna hired educated people, often disloyal and exiled, rather than professional teachers, to teach. Tuition was collected in a common fund, from which the cost of maintaining the premises was deducted, and the remaining funds were divided among the teachers. The earnings were negligible, as my stepmother, who taught in the lower grades, was aware of the modest income. The teaching staff tried to meet the highest standards, but there was no uniform for the students, and we wore simple robes that were washed weekly. There were only seven or eight students in each class. Knowledge was conveyed in a simplified manner, and I was limited to written assignments, while the educational process did not foster the development of skills. Despite this, our gymnasium was renowned as a leading educational institution. Russian was taught by E. S. Shlikhter, a communist and the wife of the future People's Commissar of Agriculture of Ukraine. History was taught by M. A. Esnova, also a communist, who used a methodology different from Ilovaisky's traditional textbook, emphasizing a more modern approach. French was taught by an illegal communist. Overall, the faculty was interesting but lacked the necessary teaching skills. They were eager and hardworking, while we merely absorbed information without actively participating in the learning process.

In her book "My Life," V. A. Florenskaya shares fascinating moments from her biography. Published in 2022 by the Moscow publishing house "New Literary Review," the book is a sincere and profound account of the author's personal experience. It reflects important stages in her life, thoughts, and experiences that shaped her worldview.

By reading "My Life," you can observe Florenskaya's process of self-discovery and how various events influenced her personality and work. The book is filled with reflections on human relationships, the meaning of life, and the search for one's place in the world.

This work will be of interest not only to fans of V. A. Florenskaya's style, but also to those who appreciate deep and frank prose. "My Life" is an important contribution to contemporary literature and provides readers with an opportunity to reflect on their lives and the ways they make sense of them.

Context

The author of these memoirs is Vera Alexandrovna Florenskaya (1900–1996), the granddaughter of a priest and the daughter of an agronomist. As a child, she lived in Krasnoyarsk, where she also received an education at a private gymnasium, which she successfully graduated from in 1918. After that, Vera Alexandrovna entered Tomsk University. However, due to the outbreak of the Civil War, the full-fledged educational process at the university was threatened, and, according to her recollections, her studies did not work out as she expected.

The history of this school is a vivid example of how, in pre-revolutionary Russia, opponents of tsarism created alternative educational institutions, distinct from state gymnasiums. These initiatives often entailed serious consequences, as supervision of educational institutions was very strict. However, private gymnasiums had more opportunities to circumvent controls than public schools. It is important to note that this gymnasium operated legally, having the appropriate permission from the authorities. In the late 19th century, completely "underground" educational institutions also existed. In these schools, education was organized unsystematically and not always effectively, although teachers tried to provide their students with knowledge.

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Passing exams for admission to universities in Tsarist Russia was an important stage in the lives of applicants. The student admissions process was based on strict rules and requirements. Applicants had to demonstrate their knowledge in various subjects, such as mathematics, physics, literature, and history. Exams typically took the form of written and oral tests, which allowed for the assessment of not only theoretical knowledge, but also the ability to argue one's thoughts.

Preparing for exams required considerable effort and time. Students consulted tutors, studied textbooks, and took practice exams. Competition was also significant, as university places were limited and the number of applicants was constantly growing.

The university examination system in Tsarist Russia played a key role in shaping future specialists and society's elite. Successfully passing exams opened the doors to higher education and a career, making them a significant event in the life of every student.