what were catherine the great's educational reforms
Catherine the Great's educational reforms were significant in shaping the future of Russian education. In 1786, she issued the first Russian education act for the entire country, which established a two-year course in minor schools in every district town and a five-year course in major schools in every provincial town[1]. This act represented a substantial step towards nationalizing education in Russia.
Additionally, Catherine founded the Smolny Institute for Noble Maidens in 1764, which was the first educational establishment for women in Russia and Europe's first public educational institution for girls[2][4]. The curriculum at Smolny was comprehensive, including subjects like geography, mathematics, history, Orthodoxy, needlepoint, and home economics[4]. The institute aimed to produce educated women, good mothers, and useful members of society[2].
Catherine also remodeled the Cadet Corps in 1766, initiating many educational reforms and beginning to take children from a very young age, educating them until the age of 21[5]. Her educational reforms were part of a broader plan to raise cultured, industrious, and loyal subjects, and she believed that a "new kind of person" could be created by inculcating Russian children with European education[9].
Despite these efforts, Catherine's reforms did not reach all segments of society. By the end of her reign, only a small fraction of the population was being educated in state institutions, and education for serfs was largely neglected[9][11]. Nonetheless, her reforms laid the groundwork for future developments in Russian education.
Citations:
[1] Education - Enlightenment, Reforms, Systems https://www.britannica.com/topic/education/National-education-under-enlightened-rulers
[2] Smolny Institute of Noble Maidens - Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smolny_Institute_of_Noble_Maidens
[3] [PDF] Catherine the Great's Reform of Russian Education - PubPub https://assets.pubpub.org/hmoxqwfa/33d650aa-ad1c-45a4-aff4-0dd55ad5937f.pdf
[4] Smolny Institute | Encyclopedia.com https://www.encyclopedia.com/history/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/smolny-institute
[5] The Role of Catherine the Great in Promoting Education and Health Care in Russia https://writersbureau.net/jede-journal/the-role-of-catherine-the-great-in-promoting-education-and-health-care-in-russia/?amp=1
[6] Smolny Institute in St Petersburg Russia - Anna Gaplichnaya https://st-petersburg.guide/whattosee/smolny-institute/
[7] The Foundation of the Russian Educational System by Catherine II - JSTOR https://www.jstor.org/stable/4207857
[8] Institute for Noble Maidens - Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Institute_for_Noble_Maidens
[9] Catherine’s Domestic Policies https://courses.lumenlearning.com/suny-hccc-worldhistory2/chapter/catherines-domestic-policies/
[10] Smolny Institute for Noble Maidens https://izi.travel/en/afe4-smolny-institute-for-noble-maidens/en
[11] Reforms of Catherine the Great https://www.worldhistory.org/article/2342/reforms-of-catherine-the-great/
[12] ‘Society for Education of Noble Maidens’ (Smolny Institute) established in Petersburg https://www.prlib.ru/en/history/619245
[13] Main project site https://blogs.kent.ac.uk/ageofrevolution/revolutionary-figures/catherine-the-great/
[14] A Smolny album : glimpses into life at the Imperial Educational Society of Noble Maidens / edited by Nancy Kovaleff Baker. - Vanderbilt University https://catalog.library.vanderbilt.edu/discovery/fulldisplay/alma991043621993003276/01VAN_INST:vanui
[15] Smolny Institution for Noble Maidens founded by Catherine the Great ~ Fragrances and Cultures ~ Fragrantica https://www.fragrantica.com/news/Smolny-Institution-for-Noble-Maidens-founded-by-Catherine-the-Great-16184.html
