Past: "Please sit down and insert the ends of the wires into your ears"

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• Context

We constantly receive amazing news about new inventions.

I remember well the moment when we, students of the Ostrogozhsk gymnasium, were told that the last two lessons were canceled, and instead we would be taken somewhere. We lined up in pairs in the school courtyard, and our math and physics teacher, nicknamed Barbarossa, promised to demonstrate something very interesting. This event left a lasting impression and became a memorable moment in our academic life, emphasizing the importance of practical experience in education.

We strolled down the main street and stopped at the door of a shop, where we were admitted one by one. In the large, almost empty room, we noticed a table with a mysterious oblong box equipped with two cords. One by one, we approached this box, offering various theories about what might be inside. This moment became a true test of curiosity and anticipation for us, fueling interest in the box's contents and creating an atmosphere of mystery.

Barbarossa was silent for a long time, slowly stroking his red beard. This moment of silence created an atmosphere of tension, making those around him anticipate his next word. His gaze was focused, and it seemed as if he was considering every detail. At such moments, his wisdom and experience became especially evident, emphasizing his authority in a difficult situation. Before you is a recently developed device capable of reproducing any sound, including human speech. This device was invented by Edison and received the Greek name "phonograph," which means "sound recorder" in Russian. Please take your seats at the table and insert the ends of the wires into your ears. Everyone else present is requested to observe complete silence. Let's get started!

There were rumors among high school students that physics experiments rarely end in success for our serious mathematics teacher and physics. So this time we weren't expecting anything good. Soon he'd wipe his bald head with a handkerchief and say reservedly, "Unfortunately, this device is out of order today," or, "We'll probably have to repeat this experiment next time."

In reality, something different happened. We perceived a hissing sound, and we clearly heard the words from the box: "Hello! How do you hear me? I'd like to introduce you to a device called a phonograph. Pho-no-graph..." The phonograph is a revolutionary device for recording and reproducing sound that changed the approach to music and audio recordings. It made it possible to preserve sounds and voices, making them available to future generations.

After a brief explanation, there was a pause, followed by the sounds of a vigorous march.

We were amazed and a little frightened. Never before had we heard objects communicate in human language the way this brown, highly polished box did. The music it emitted surprised us less, as we were already familiar with music boxes.

Barbarossa, stroking his red beard, looked at us triumphantly, as if he, not Edison, had invented the speaking machine. His confidence and pride created an atmosphere in which it was difficult not to feel the grandeur of the moment.

In his work "At the Beginning of Life," Samuil Marshak touches on important aspects of childhood and personality development. The text explores how first impressions are formed and how they influence further development. The importance of early moments in a person's life cannot be overestimated, as they set the tone for all subsequent stages. The work emphasizes that it is in childhood that the foundations of worldview and emotional maturity are laid. By creating vivid images and memorable moments, Marshak demonstrates how childhood experiences shape character and life orientation. This work is not only a literary work but also an important philosophical reflection on the nature of human life and its origins.

Amazing news about new inventions constantly arrives. These achievements in science and technology are impressive and open new horizons for us. Each new discovery is a step forward, changing our understanding of possibilities and the future. Innovations that appear on the market have the potential to significantly simplify our lives and improve their quality. We live in an era when technology is developing at an incredible speed, and each invention brings with it potential changes in various fields of activity.

I distinctly remember the moment when we, students at the Ostrogozhsk gymnasium, were told that the last two classes were canceled. Instead, some interesting events awaited us. We lined up in pairs in the school courtyard, and our math and physics teacher, known by the nickname Barbarossa, came out to greet us. He promised to demonstrate something truly fascinating.

We strolled down the main street and stopped in front of a store, where they began to let us in one by one. In the spacious and almost empty room, we noticed a table with a mysterious oblong box with two cords connected to it. We approached the box one by one, offering various theories about its contents.

Barbarossa remained silent for a long time, leisurely stroking his red beard.

Presented before you is a recently invented device capable of reproducing any sound, including the sounds of human speech. This unique device, named by inventor Edison "phonograph" - which means "sound writer" in Greek - opens new horizons in the world of sound technology. Please sit at the table and insert the ends of the wires into your ears. Everyone else present is asked to maintain complete silence. Let's get started!

There were rumors among high school students that our strict math and physics teacher rarely succeeded in physics experiments. So we didn't expect success this time either. We were looking forward to him carefully wiping his bald head with a handkerchief and quietly remarking, "Unfortunately, this device is out of order today," or, "Apparently, we'll have to repeat this experiment next time."

In reality, everything happened differently. We heard a hissing sound in our ears, and a voice came from the box: “Hello! Can you hear me well? I want to introduce you to a device called a phonograph. A phonograph…” The phonograph is a revolutionary invention that has changed the way we perceive sound and music. With its help, we can record and reproduce sounds, opening up new horizons in the world of audio technology.

After a brief explanation, there was a pause, after which the melodies of a bravura march were heard.

We were shocked and even a little frightened. Never before had we heard objects speak so humanly as this brown, polished box. The music emanating from it surprised us less, as music boxes were familiar to us. However, this box possessed a special charm and mystery that made us ponder its origins and capabilities.

Barbarossa, stroking his red beard, looked at us triumphantly, as if he, and not Edison, had invented the talking machine.

In Samuil Marshak's "At the Beginning of Life," the author touches on important themes related to the beginning of human existence and the formation of personality. He describes how the foundations of the future are laid in the first moments of life, revealing the depth and multifaceted nature of a child's perception of the world. The text is permeated with philosophical reflections on how childhood experiences influence a person's future destiny. Marshak masterfully conveys feelings and emotions, allowing readers to recognize the importance of each stage of life. His work is not only a literary work, but also a source of wisdom that is relevant for different generations.

Context

The memoirs cover the period from 1899 to 1902, when Samuil Marshak studied at the gymnasium in Ostrogozhsk, located in the Voronezh province. This period of his life became an important formative period, influencing the further development of his creative path and literary views.

In pre-revolutionary classical gymnasiums, physics, like other natural sciences, occupied a secondary place in the curriculum. The main focus was on humanities disciplines such as ancient languages ​​(Greek and Latin), modern foreign languages, and Russian literature. Gymnasiums were considered model educational institutions among the many different types of schools in the Russian Empire. However, they were often criticized for their lack of practicality and the disconnect between education and real-life conditions. Importantly, this approach to education limited the development of scientific knowledge among students and reduced interest in the natural sciences, including physics. Unlike classical gymnasiums, realschule (real schools), which existed until 1871 under the name "real gymnasiums," became the forerunners of modern mathematical schools. Their curriculum completely excluded ancient languages, while emphasizing subjects such as mathematics, drawing, and natural history, including geography. These educational institutions played an important role in the formation of scientific and technical education and the training of specialists, which is still relevant in modern educational systems.

In accordance with the education system of that time, high school students had the opportunity to enter universities, mainly to the humanities, among which the law faculty was the most popular. At the same time, graduates of real schools typically chose technical institutes. Thus, physics was of little importance to gymnasium students, as it was not considered a priority in terms of future career prospects.

The teaching of physics in educational institutions often leaves much to be desired. For many years, the subject was studied primarily theoretically, without practical experiments. The advent of impressive technological innovations has highlighted the clear dissonance between the insufficient attention to physics in the school curriculum and the growing public interest in the natural sciences. It is important to ensure high-quality physics instruction that allows students not only to understand the basic concepts but also to see their application in real life.

The case described by Marshak vividly illustrates the gap between a conservative provincial teacher who could not successfully conduct experiments in class and a life filled with the anticipation of new discoveries. While the teacher nicknamed Barbarossa spent his time grooming his luxurious red beard, the students dreamed of future aircraft and submarines. There were also other teachers, such as Konstantin Tsiolkovsky, whose engaging lessons left a deep imprint on the students' memories. However, such exceptions were rare and were due to the scientist's outstanding personality. At the beginning of the 20th century, physics instruction began to undergo significant changes. Beginning in 1899, congresses of physical and chemical science teachers were held, raising the need to emphasize practical experiments in the curriculum. Beginning in 1909, schools began actively purchasing laboratory equipment, which contributed to the improvement of practical instruction. The number of hours allocated to the study of physics also increased, which indicated a growing interest in this discipline and its importance in the educational process.

Read also:

• Tsiolkovsky about his fellow teachers - "I'm bored in the teachers' room"
• Marshak: "I was not accepted into the gymnasium, but the gymnasium itself turned out to be my home"
• Elizaveta Vodovozova - about how natural science began to be taught at Smolny
• "Innovations were introduced... I got little knowledge out of this school"