At the Museum of the History of Religion, within the framework of the exhibition “Leninian Myth and Image”, they told interesting facts about Volodya Ulyanov’s school days.
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The photo was taken on the day Vladimir Ulyanov entered first grade (on the right in the photo).
An important stage in Lenin’s life began on August 16, 1879, when he entered the classical gymnasium in Simbirsk.
Irina Makeeva, Culture Worker of the Ulyanovsk region, senior researcher of the Museum-Reserve “Homeland of VI Lenin”, spoke about her studies, her favorite subjects and her only rating of “good”.
“After entering the gymnasium, Vladimir becomes the first student. At that time, this is the one with the highest average score during the year after the exams. The grading system in the Simbirsk classical gymnasium was five points, but for each subject. They gave not one, but three marks: for success, attention and diligence,” Irina Makeeva explained.
Vladimir Ulyanov’s matriculation certificate also contains a B.
“It was established by a strict teacher of literature and logic, the director of the gymnasium, Fyodor Mikhailovich Kerensky. However, some students, less gifted than Vladimir Ulyanov, obtained the highest score in logic,” the researcher clarified.
In the classical gymnasium, the main subjects were ancient languages. For example, Latin was taught from first grade and ancient Greek from third grade. These, by the way, were one of Ulyanov’s favorite disciplines, which caused bewilderment among other students who considered them “the most difficult and hated.”
The “first student” was the most suitable for the humanities.
The famous Simbirsk high school student is characterized as follows: “He was the youngest in the class, a short boy who wrote excellent essays; the strict Kerensky rated them with the highest score.”
According to a new book about Lenin, recently published by historians, Vladimir had the appearance and build of his father (he was a serf, rose to the rank of civil general and received the title of hereditary nobleman), from whom he also inherited a cheerful disposition and quick temperament.
Fyodor Kerensky appears in the same work. His son Alexander, after the overthrow of Nicholas II, will become the head of the Provisional Government.
The director of the Simbirsk gymnasium spoke thus of the student Volodya Ulyanov: “Very talented, constantly diligent and orderly, he was the first student in all classes… His education was based on religion and reasonable discipline…”. This feature may surprise many.
The exhibition “Leniniana. Myth and Image” at the Museum of the History of Religion can be visited until June 25. Guests will be shown several unique exhibits, including the report card of student Volodya Ulyanov.
