Main public schools

The main public schools are elementary schools in the Russian Empire .

In 1782, the “Commission on the Establishment of Public Schools” was established, which approved the plan of educational institutions, according to which all public schools were divided into three types: small, with two classes; medium, with three; major, with four and five years of study.

The main public schools consisted of 4 classes. The first two classes corresponded to the course of the Small Public School . In grade 1, they studied reading , writing and the basics of Christian teaching (a brief catechism and sacred history ); in the 2nd grade, a lengthy catechism, arithmetic , Russian grammar , calligraphy and drawing ; in grade 3 - a repeat of the catechism; arithmetic, general history, geography , Russian grammar with exercises and calligraphy. Grade 4 had two departments, training in it lasted accordingly two years. In the 4th grade, history was studied (general and Russian), geography, Russian grammar, geometry , mechanics , physics , natural history, civil architecture and drawing. Those interested, starting from grade 1, were taught languages: Latin and one of the newest. In addition, those who wish could prepare for the post of teacher of small public schools. To do this, we studied a course of teaching methods ("learning method").

Each school had up to 6 teachers. The teacher of arithmetic was at the same time a teacher of Russian grammar, Latin, physics and architecture; teacher of history - a teacher of geography and natural sciences; also a law teacher, a language teacher and a calligraphy teacher. The school was headed by a director or a caretaker. The main trustees of the schools were governors or governors-general . All schools were run by the Order of Public Charity .

According to the Charter on public schools of August 5 ( 16 ), 1786 , in each provincial city, one Main public school was to be established. By decree of September 22 ( October 3 ), 1786 , it was ordered to open the main public schools in 26 provinces (mainly in the western and southwestern ones), and by decree of November 3 ( 14 ), 1788 - in the remaining 25 provinces.

The first "Main Public School" was opened in St. Petersburg in 1783. Its director was one of the authors of the project of the system of public schools, teacher F. I. Yankovich .

The main public schools accepted children of all classes, except serfs. They used advanced for their time teaching methods and taking into account the knowledge of students, used the classroom system.

In 1802, the Commission of Public Schools was replaced by the Ministry of Public Education , and on January 24 ( February 5 ), 1803 , preliminary rules for public education were approved, which provided for the replacement of the main public schools with gymnasiums. In the western provinces of the Russian Empire, this process began in the same 1803, and with the approval in 1804 of the general Charter of educational institutions, and in other provinces, the main public schools began to be transformed into gymnasiums .