The educational police also conferred its presence on Trirodov’s
school in the person of the Inspector of the National Schools.
The local Inspector of the National Schools, Leonty Andreyevitch
Shabalov, had served all his life in remote, wooded places, and was
for that reason quite an uncivilized being. Tall, robust, shaggy,
unharmonious, he resembled even in external appearance a bear of
Vologda or Olonetz. His face was overgrown with a thick beard. His
thick hair crept down his low forehead towards his eyebrows. His back
was broad and somewhat stooped, like a huge trough.
Shabalov frequently said to the instructors and instructresses in his
district in a hoarse drawl:
“Batenka[29] (or “golubushka”[30] if it happened to be an
instructress), brilliant instructors are not necessary. I don’t like
clever men and women, I’m no respecter of modern ladies and dandies.
The chief thing, batenka, in life and in service, is not to put on
airs. In my opinion, batenka, if you perform your State obligations
and conduct yourself peacefully you will find yourself well off. The
educational programme has been worked out by people not more stupid
than you and me, so that you and I needn’t spend our time
philosophizing about programmes. That’s what I think, batenka!”
But, notwithstanding all his respect for educational programmes,
Shabalov knew the educational business badly. It would be truer to say
that he did not know it at all. He was hardly interested in it. He was
not even very literate. He received his inspector’s position as a
reward for his piety, patriotism, and correct mode of thinking, rather
than for his labours in the interest of public instruction. He had
served in his youth as a class assistant in the gymnasia. There, by a
steady attendance at the gymnasia chapel and the reading of the
apostles in a stentorian voice, he turned upon himself the attention
of an old bigot of a general’s wife. She procured him the inspector’s
position.
There was no way in which he could help the young and
little-experienced instructors. When he visited the schools he limited
himself to a superficial examination and gave the pupils several
stupid questions, mostly on matters of piety, of “love towards the
Fatherland and national pride.”[31]
Above all, Shabalov loved to collect rumours and gossip. He did this
with great ability and zeal. Every one knew this weakness of his.
Consequently there were many eager to gossip and to inform against
some one. There were even a number of informers among the instructors
and instructresses who wished to gain favour and promotion. Once it
was reported to Shabalov that teachers of both sexes in some of the
neighbouring schools had gathered one holiday eve in one of the
schools and sang songs there. He immediately sent them all a
notification composed as follows:
The School District of Rouban.
No. 2187
Skorodozh,
16_th of September_, 1904.
Inspector of the National Schools of the first
section of the Skorodozh Government. To
Instructor of the Vikhliaevsky one-class
rural school, Ksenofont Polupavlov:
“Dear Sir, It has come to my knowledge
that on the evening of the 7th of September you
participated at a meeting of instructors and
instructresses, which had been arranged without
the necessary permit, and that you sang there
with them songs of a worldly and reprehensible
character. Therefore, dear sir, I beg you in
the future not to permit yourself similar actions
unbecoming to your schoolmaster’s vocation,
and I herewith warn you that at a repetition of
such behaviour you will be immediately discharged
from the service.
“Inspector Shabalov.”
On another occasion he wrote to the same instructor:
“On the occasion of an inspection of the schools
of the section intrusted to me, a number of instructors
and instructresses, and you, dear sir,
among that number, have transgressed the limits
of the programme ratified for Primary Schools
by the authorities, in imparting to your pupils
facts from history and geography unnecessary to
the people; and therefore, in confirmation of
certain verbal instructions I have already made
to you in person, I beg you in the future to
maintain strictly the established programmes;
and I warn you that if you fail to comply you
will be discharged from the service.”
Shabalov was particularly displeased with the participation of certain
instructors and instructresses in the local pedagogical circle. This
circle was initiated in the town of Skorodozh some three years before
by the gymnasia instructor Bodeyev and the town school instructor
Voronok. The circle discussed various questions of upbringing,
instruction, and school affairs generally which interested in those
years many teachers and parents. Some of the members read their
reports here. It was particularly provoking to Shabalov that these
reports occasionally recounted certain episodes in school life and
eccentricities of the educational authorities. Shabalov wanted to
discharge the audacious ones. The District School Council did not
agree with him. Then followed a long and unpleasant discussion, out of
which Shabalov did not issue as conqueror.
Trirodov found it painful and difficult to talk with Shabalov.
Shabalov said in a slow, creaking voice:
“Giorgiy Sergeyevitch, you will have to send your wards to town for
examination.”
“Why is it necessary?” asked Trirodov.
Shabalov laughed his creaking “he-he” laugh and said:
“Well, it’s necessary. We’ll give them certificates.”
“What’s the use of your certificates to them?” asked Trirodov. “They
need knowledge and not certificates. Your certificates won’t feed
their hunger.”
“The certificates are necessary for military service,” explained
Shabalov.
“They will remain pupils here,” said Trirodov, “until they are ready
for practical work or for scientific and artistic occupations. Then
some of them will go to technical schools, others to universities.
Why, then, should they have certificates for a course in a Primary
School?”
Shabalov repeated dully and stubbornly:
“Things are not done that way. Your school is counted among the
Primary Schools. Those who have completed the course should receive
certificates. How else can it be?--judge for yourself! And if you wish
to go beyond the primary course, then you’ll have to procure for
yourself a private gymnasia or a professional school, or, if you like,
a commercial one. But what you want is impossible. And, of course,
you’d have to engage real teachers in place of your cheap barefoots.”
“My barefoots,” retorted Trirodov, “have the same diplomas and
learning as the real teachers, to use your expression. It is strange
that you do not know or realize that fact. And they receive such ample
pay from me that I should hesitate to call them cheap. Generally
speaking, it seems to me that in its relation to private schools the
so-called educational council would do well to limit itself to an
external police surveillance of a purely negative character. They
should merely see whether we commit anything of a criminal nature. But
what business have you with the direction of schools? You have so few
schools of your own, and yet they are so poor that you have quite a
time to attend to them.”
Shabalov, somewhat subdued, replied:
“Still, the examination will have to be held. Surely you understand
that? And the Headmaster of the National Schools is anxious to be
present at the examination. We have our instructions from the
Ministry, and it is impossible to discuss the matter. Our business is
to execute orders.”
“Come here yourselves if it is absolutely necessary to hold an
examination,” said Trirodov coldly.
“Very well,” said Shabalov upon reflection. “I will report your wish
to the Headmaster of the National Schools. I don’t know how he will
look upon the matter, but I will make my report.”
Then he reflected again briefly. He rubbed his back, covered by its
blue official frock, against the back of his chair--the greasy, faded
cloth against the handsome dark-green leather--and said:
“If the Headmaster agrees to it, we will appoint the day and send you
the notification, that you may expect us.”
In the course of a few days Shabalov sent the announcement that the
examination in Trirodov’s school was appointed to be held on May 30,
at ten o’clock in the morning, on the premises.
This meddling on the part of the educational police annoyed Trirodov,
but he had to submit to it.