Published at the “Arguments and Facts” Publishing House (http://www.aif.ru)
ÀèÔ Europe, released 01 (53-56), February, 5, 2004.
Article address: http://www.aif.ru/online/europe/53-56/01_01
Eton. Where gentlemen are brought up
WITHIN TEN minutes walk of Windsor Castle, across a bridge over the River Thames, a Gothic Chapel appears, surrounded by ancient school buildings. It is the legendary Eton College. On its narrow streets young men pass, dressed in tail coats and white ties. These future gentlemen go to work and dinner dressed as ordinary people do only for the opera or for formal receptions.
FOUNDED in 1440 by King Henry VI, Eton has always been closer to the royal court, than other public schools. The head of the board of governors is appointed only by the Queen or the Prime Minister; Oxford, Cambridge and the Royal Academy of Science are involved in the selection of the board, and the post of headmaster at Eton is considered to be the greatest achievement of any teacher's career.
Eton was founded with the aim of educating statesmen, and also the supreme clergy. From 70 pupils 35 traditionally were intended for secular authority and 35, for spiritual. From the date of the foundation of Eton it has been a closed establishment for the children of aristocrats where only two subjects were taught - Latin and Greek. It was considered that this knowledge was quite sufficient for successful political career. However as the 19th century passed other subjects gradually began to be taught. That is how this elite school is today. Peter Reznikov tells us about managing the faculty of Russian language and literature at Eton and that there are no 'New Russians' at the school!
- A Russian Department in an elite English college - that sounds a little exotic.
- It is much more exotic that the biggest faculty in Eton until recently was the faculty of Latin and Greek. Pupils start to study Russian here of their own will but a Latin test is required for the entrance examinations and is one of compulsory subjects for GCSE. Over five hundred years Latin and Greek have hardly lost their positions within the Eton curriculum. Until recently only a classicist could be a boy's personal tutor.
Interestingly enough: the faculty of Russian was set up in Eton 45 years earlier than faculty of English. Russian at Eton has been studied since 1918 whereas English teachers were first formally employed only in the 1960s. At Eton today 10 languages are taught - to 1300 pupils. It is a very unique place as, for example, at the Institute of Foreign Languages in Moscow they teach, also, 10 languages, but to 5 thousand students. Many modern languages were introduced in the 20th century but for the GCSE only two are obligatory - Latin and French.
- Is it right that in order to study at Eton, boys at the age of 13, should already know Latin and French?
- Certainly these subjects are not taught in ordinary elementary schools, but there are special private schools, which all specialize in preparing children for entry into schools like Eton. Frequently
this can be an obstacle for Russian children hoping to attend Eton.
- That is not to say that there are no Russian children at Eton?
- No. There have been Russians at Eton for years. The first Russians studying at Eton, were sent here by Ivan the Terrible. Peter the Great sent the boyars' children. At the moment two boys from Moscow are studying here. However these children have already lived in England for a long time and have been to special preparatory schools.
- Not naming names - it is, however, interesting, to see what class their families are from?
- I can assure you, that these children got here like everyone else. And, as far as I know, neither of them are from the so-called class of 'New Russians'. More so, one of these families has had to make a lot of sacrifices to send their son to be here.
- They say that Alexander Solzhenitsyn's son was at Eton.
- Yermolai Solzhenitsyn was here in 1983 for one year on an international scholarship. His father Alexander Solzhenitsyn had huge popularity and respect from Eton and a talk of his to the boys had to take place in the Chapel because of the huge audience. He was probably the first to ever receive this honour: the entire school came to listen to the great writer.
Everyone a Prince
- WHAT are the conditions for entry to Eton today?
- Primarily a high level of academic preparation. If the child successfully passes the entrance exam and comes with good recommendations from his previous school then he will be accepted as a pupil at Eton. Before the exams, he still has to take various interviews and tests. In fact not everyone is happy living away from home. Besides Eton has a rather intense daily routine and rather strict requirements. The boy should be healthy as everyone has to do a certain amount of sport.
- That is to say that wealth does not guarantee of acceptance?
- No, it has never been that way. There is great demand for places here so the selection process is very rigid.
- Now I must ask how much it costs to send a pupil to Eton?
- One year costs up to 20 thousand pounds. So, as you can see, it is not necessary to be a millionaire for your child to study here. The main requirements are ability and eagerness.
- And does an aristocratic background help in any way?
- In the past it certainly did. In fact Eton was really only for the aristocracy. Now, however, it is better. At the moment about 20% of Eton's pupils have aristocratic surnames.
- Prince William was at Eton, and earlier this year and Prince Harry pleased his father, Charles, with good grades at the final A-Level exams at your school. They too, were treated like everyone else?
- Only by successfully taking the entrance exams did they gain the right to study at Eton. Interestingly, it is not only English royals who study here but also the children of other European royal families. But none of these children enjoy special privileges - they study just like everyone else and William is known just as William Windsor, and Prince Harry, as Harry Wales. They do not have special rooms and they are encouraged and punished at the school in the same way as all the other pupils. Nobody addresses to them "Your Highness". Prince William, for example, is treated just like a mere mortal.
The Scholarship for geniuses
- IF A CHILD is a genius but his parents do not have the 20 thousand pounds required each year for his education, are there ways he can still be educated at Eton?
- A scholarship is awarded to gifted children. In Eton there are two types of scholarship - an academic one, for children of great academic ability, and a musical one - for those who have great musical talent. Musical education is taken very seriously at Eton. Music teaching began seriously here in the 19th century. Today with 1300 pupils at the school, there are 800 music lessons every week. In 2000 a new music school building was opened, equipped with latest developments in musical technology equipment. The teachers come here from all over England. We also have our own full-time teachers. Every year a few especially talented boys get in the prestigious National Youth Orchestra.
They academic scholars are known as King's Scholars. They are children of outstanding ability, with some form of genius. To make them distinct from other pupils, as well as the standard tail-coat they have to wear gowns.
- There are legends of harsh conditions within the precincts of British private schools. For example, at the school Gordonstoun in the north of Scotland where many royals studied, including the Queen's husband, the Duke of Edinburgh, and also Prince Charles, pupils have to wear shorts and take cold showers throughout the whole year. The windows in the bedrooms are never closed and pupils are not allowed to use than two thin blankets.
- Until recently such conditions were considered personality-forming. It was believed that Spartan conditions give one determination, endurance, self-control and other valuable character traits. The more expensive and respectable the school was, the more severe the conditions for the pupils. Now, however, much has changed. The rooms are warm and nobody has to wear shorts. The rooms in which pupils live do not feature any special luxuries: there is just a bed, a bedside-table and a desk. And, of course, posters of the boys' favorite actresses. Just ordinary furniture.
By the way
"THE BATTLE of Waterloo was won on the playing fields of Eton". This familiar saying was given first by the Duke of Wellington, to the express the role of the private school in the formation of the elite of English society. The purpose of such schools was to bring up the gentleman. The purpose of the gentleman - to lead people in times of trial. This is England summed up by the "Iron Duke", himself.
Margarita ARSOVA-STEWART, London, Great Britain
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