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Lenin: Education

Figure 1.--Here we see Lenin in the military-style uniform of the Simbirsk Classical Gymnasium. He was about 9-10 years old having just entered the school (1879).

We have little information as to Lenin's early education at this time. We do not yet have information on his first school. We do not know where he attended primary school or what children in primary schools wore at the time. At age 9 years he entered the first grade at the Simbirsk Classical Gymnasium (1879). The school was located in Simbirsk on the Volga River. This was the same town where he was born and grew up. In the photograph here he looks to be 9-10 years so it must have been taken soon after he entered the school (figure 1). Russian secondary schools required military style uniforms and there are some pictures of him wearing that uniform. This is much the same as the system adopted in Japan. He apparently was an excellent student. He graduated from the gymnasium with a gold medal (1887). Lenin was accepted to study law at the University of Kazan. After only studying briefly he was expelled and banished for revolutionary activities (December 1887). He studied on his own and in St. Pertersburg to obtain is law credentials. He opened a law practice, but after a short period gave up his practice to persue revolutionary activities.

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HBC

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Created: April 7, 2004
Last updated: April 10, 2004