The Old Argument. Rewiew of the books: Katkov M. (1902) Our Learning Reform. Moscow: S. Fischer’s Edition. Shchapov A. (1870) Social and Educational Conditions of Russian People’s Mental Development. Saint Petersburg: N. Polyakov’s Edition

Abstract

Collision of M. Katkov’s and A. Shchapov’s ideas is seen as a fundamental conflictthat sheds light on what preceded destruction of the traditional Russian school. The contemporary Russian school embodies the almost sesquicentennial ideas of A. Shchapov and vigorous denial of the teaching principles of M. Katkov, the ideologue of the Russian gymnasium of the last years of its existence.