LIFE IN RUSSIA

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXXII, Issue 12530, 16 April 1935, Page 5

LIFE IN RUSSIA

IMPRESSIONS OF NEW ZEALANDERS. HAPPY SCHOOL CHILDREN. PHYSICAL CULTURE ALMOST A MANIA. (Press Association). WELLINGTON, April 15Mr. Max Riske, a Wellington school teacher, and Mr. P. C, Warner, of the Hutt railway workshops, who went abroad last October as representatives of the Friends of the Soviet Union, returned to New Zealand to-day. Mr. Riske naturally interested himself greatly in schooling' in Russia. He said of the conditions of life of the people generally, that one could not pretend that Russia was a paradise of efficiency in many of its works. One could say definitely that it was a country where only useful working people could live. Moreover, it was making greater progress in social, intellectual, and economic life than any other country-they saw. He spent some time in England, and also visited Holland and Germany. He spent eight weeks in Russia. Mr. Warner was not in Russia for such a long time as Mr. Riske. While in Moscow he was confined by illness to his hotel for a fortnight, and during this period had a number of visitors, including Miss Louisa Todd, of Invercargill, who has been teaching in Russia for three years, and Mr H. Millar, a well-known miner in. Waihi in pre-war days.- He saw Russia only under winter conditions, but considered that an advantage. Speaking of his visits to schools, he said that he visited some of 'the best schools in Moscow where the knowledge of teaching, the organisation, and the care of the children was of the highest possible order. In every school, health was in the hands of medical practitioners and nurses attached to the staff. Any case of sickness or under-nourishment was given the greatest attention. There were dining rooms in the schools where meals were served to the children at very cheap prices. All round, the children seemed to be very well fed, well clothed, and extremely happy. Physical culture was almost a mania, the children taking as keen ail interest as the adults in the caie of their bodies, and development to the highest pitch. KEEN INTEREST IN ENGLISH CLASSICS. In regard to culture, literature and music occupied a ve r y high place Contrary to common belief, tremendous interest was taken in literature as literature, rather than fiom the point of views of politics. He - found that great attention was paid to the study of English, which was an alternative foreign language for all children over 12 years of age. English classics, as well as the more popular novels were translated m great numbers, and Shakespeare and Dickens were extremely popular. Eyeiy night in the week there was a Shakespearean play on somewhere in Moscow. Children’s literature like Kipling’s “Just So Stories’ ’and-“Treas-ure Island” were - translated-in huge editions and excellently printed anc bound. CROWDED THEATRES. Ho saw some extremely'fine, film? and plays, the acting being of a universally high standard. The theatres were invariably crowded- He won have seen more plays had he een able do. 5 b0,0k ahead, this being an absolute necessity in Moscow if one Wished to get a'Seat. The night e.fore he.left Moscow hd M ard “ RI S 0 ' lctto” performed. The house was crowded out half an hour before the performance commenced, an a lea st GO pcr. cent, of - the attendance was persons ' und-rgt. t ie> close 'he was astonished to see:children of 14 and 15 crowding to tlic stage tosapplaud the singers.