Figure 1.-- This family portrait was taken in Riga during 1928. It shows the three children in a family wearig their school outfits. The oldest boy (name unreadable) went to the 6th grade, the girl Brone went to the 5th, and little Petras just started the school in 1st grade. They all look very serious. The clothing looks very German. Notice the lapel decorations, it may be Latvian Indepedence Day -- November 18.

Upon achieving independence after World War I, Latvia for the first time began building a national education system. The schools had been ibfluebced by both Russia and Germany. While Russia completely contrplled Latvia (by 1772), the strong German presence in the cities influenced the education system. Educators described building a school system on democratic and humanist principles. An important goal was to establish a national identity in a country that in addition to the Latvian majority included ethnic Germans, Russians, Jews and others. For the firsrt time, the right to recieve education in the Latvian language at all levels was guaranteed. Almost immeditely laws were passed 'On Latvian education institutions' and 'On Latvian minority school format' (1919). These were the foundation for free, compulsory primary education for all children aged 7/8-to 14 years. Latvia was, however, badly damaged by World War I ad disrupted by the Bloshevik attempt to comquer the Baltics. A shortage of funds and the lck of trained teachers made this impossible to immeditely achive. At first only about a thirds of school-age children actually attended school. Latvia rapidly established a modern, unified three-level system. There were six-years of primary education, four-years of secondary education (specialist secondary or vocational education), and higher education. Education was made available in all minority languages, establishing equal and democratic principles with respect to all nationalroups Latvia. Latvian national minorities were free to establishing schools. And German, Russian, Belorussian, Jewish, Lithuanian, and Estonian schools were established along with the Latvian schools. Language issues continued to be a major contriversy. Latvian educators had no desire to teach Russian, preferring Western lanuages. The minority schools were taught in German or Russian. There were concerns about the devisive nature of the system as well as the competitive impact on Latvian students. All these schools were supported by municipal or state authorities. Some private schools were opened.

Related Style Pages in the Boys' Historical Web Site
[Smocks] [Long pants suits] [Knicker suits] [Short pants suits] [Socks] [Eton suits] [Jacket and trousers]
[Blazer] [School sandals] [School smocks] [Sailor suits] [Pinafores] [Long stockings]

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Created: 9:22 PM 2/27/2005
Last updated: 9:22 PM 2/27/2005