SMAD. An Organ of Student Opinion. 1935. Volume 6. Number 5.
Education In Russia
Education In Russia.
Referring to Mr. Falla's statement about the exclusive secondary schools for the children of the elite, the speaker said this was a mis-statement of the actual conditions. In Russia, as in all countries, there is a large percentage of people who have no desire for higher education, and the Soviet leaders make no attempt to force them to attain it. However, any person who has the desire and ability to further his studies is given every opportunity. In this way the Soviet is producing artists in the truest sense of the word.
Broadly general as was Mrs. Margaret McPherson's lecture, some of the final questions were considerably more so. In the few minutes available, questions of education, immigration, and the success or failure of the whole experiment were discussed, whilst the time-honoured interest in Soviet marriage was expressed. It was quite refreshing to hear that the housing problem in Russia was not caused by any breakdown in the first or second Five-Year Plans, but was merely the result of an extraordinary rise in birth-rate.
This lecture was undoubtedly one of the best and most entertaining delivered at the College, and we hope we shall have the opportunity of hearing her again.