Reading. Read about the Russian system of education and answer the question: Russian Schools as they are shown by foreigners
Russia has one of the best mass-education systems in the world, producing a literacy rate of 98% (higher than most Western European countries). The system consists of obligatory basic education and higher education.
Education in Russia is compulsory for children between the ages of 6 and 15. It consists of primary school education for ages 6-10, followed by senior school for ages 10-15. If a pupil of secondary school wishes to go on in higher education, he or she must remain to complete secondary school for 2 more years, from age 15 to 17.
Primary and secondary schools include 11 years of study. Every school has a core curriculum of academic subjects. After completing this stage pupils are awarded the Certificate of Secondary Complete General Education. At the age of 15 children may choose to enter a vocational school or nonuniversity institute. These usually offer programmes of academic subjects and a programme of training in a technical field until students reach the age of 17 or 18. Such institutions used to be called technikum but now most of them are known as colleges.
Class work often means reciting and written and oral testing. Teachers criticisizing students in front of the class are frequent. If a student does not perform to standard, he will be “left back” to remain another year.
Questions:
1. What reputation does Russian education have?
2. What is the average level of literacy in Russia?
3. What are the components of the Russian education system?
4. Which education is compulsory in Russia?
5. What is necessary to continue education in a university?
6. How long does a pupil study at school?
7. What papers does a student receive after schooling?
8. What education is given at colleges?
9. What is usually done in class?
10. What may happen to a poor student?
What is the purpose of punishment? One purpose is obviously to reform the offender, to correct the offender's moral attitudes and anti-social behaviour and to rehabilitate him or her, which means to assist the offender to return to normal life as a useful member of the community. Punishment can also be seen as a deterrent because it warns other people of what will happen if they are tempted to break the law and prevents them from doing so. However, the third purpose of punishment lies, perhaps, in society's desire for retribution, which basically means revenge. In other words, don't we feel that a wrongdoer should suffer for his misdeeds? The form of punishment should also be considered. On the one hand, some believe that we should “make the punishment fit the crime”. Those who steal from others should be deprived of their own property to ensure that criminals are left in no doubt that crime doesn't pay . For those who attack others corporal punishment should be used. Murderers should be subject to the principle “an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth” and automatically receive the death penalty . On the other hand, it is said that such views are unreasonable, cruel and berbaric and that we should show a more humane attitude to punishment and try to understand why a person commits a crime and how society has failed to enable him to live a respectable, law-abiding life.