Chapter 6 – Teacher’s Institute

Since some time I started to worry about my formal education. Once looking through the newspaper, my attention was drawn to the advertisement of the provincial Teacher’s Institute about the availability of the correspondence tuition.
Straight on I wrote them and asked for the conditions of the admission. They informed me, ad afar as I can produce evidence about my previous study I can only be admitted to ten month preliminary course before I’ll be available for the Institute training.
I was not satisfied with the answer as I felt that I am prepared for the Institute study. During several years my father has given me a good educational training at home. In spite of that I filled in the form for the preliminary training and sent it to the institute.
So after that I got the letter from the Institute the fire broke out and all students’ files were burned without any traces. I was invited to the new office to give the information about myself and bring a photo suitable for the student’s document. In the new office I was met by the secretary, a young, interesting, talkative girl.
- “And were is now the secretary who was in the old office?” Inquired I.
- “Maria? Poor girl! She had a stroke after the fire broke out in the office and is now in hospital.”
- “I see… you say all my papers were destroyed by fire?”
- “All! You have to give us information about yourself once more!”
- “I don’t mind.”
She started to fill in the inquiry form.
- “Were you admitted to the preliminary training or straight on to the Institute course?”
- “The Institute course, of course!”
- “At what faculty you were admitted?”
- “Russian Language and Literature.”
In the questionnaire there were fifteen mire questions to be answered including 5 sub-questions about social origin.
- “Have you brought your photo for the student document?”
- “Yes, of course” I put it on the secretary’s desk.
She filled in a student card, glued on it my photo, put the institute seal on it and handed it to me.
- “It seems that’s all!” pronounced she.
- “One minute please! I should like to have a copy of the questionnaire officially affirmed by the institute as my original documents were destroyed here by fire.”
- “Oh, that is no problem!” exclaimed she, “I’ll type over the questionnaire straight on.” She finished typing, put the Institute seal on it and handed it to me. She smiled. “I wish you all the best!” pronounced she friendly.

I hurried up home. Here I have approached father who was sitting at the table and reading. “Here you are!” exclaimed I and put my student card and questionnaire in front of him.
- “Unbelievable!” exclaimed he, “you are now a student of the teacher’s institute! How have you succeeded that?” I told him how it happened. Lidia came in an after learning about my luck embraced me..

Soon the conference in connection with the beginning of the school year started. The Director of the Institute pronounced an agitating speech pointing out that only the soviet system can secure for our young people wide possibility to study by correspondence and continue their work.
Then appeared the Professor of the Historical and Dialectical Materialism, who pointed out that his subjects are leading and without fundamental knowledge of these subjects the education of young generation is absolutely impossible. The other lecturers were introduced to the students. Director wished us luck in our home study. In the office we got free railway cards an went home.
Considerable part of time I devoted to my Institute study. My father, as usually, helped me and all the required essays wee written, sent to the Institute an returned with good marks. The oral examinations were also successful
The second year was more difficult. It required more time and attention. Such subjects as Historical and Dialectical Materialism, Hegel’s and Kant’s Philosophy excited doubt and made us often pensive. In spite of difficulties all written essays were successful and oral examinations too.
At the end of the second year the Institute was informed by the Ministry of Education that due to the drastic shortage of teachers, the study course in the Institute shortened from three normal years to two only, and students who successfully completed two years study are entitled to the Diploma.
When I entered the office to get my Diploma, the secretary, as usually, courteously smiled…
- “The Party Organiser wants to talk to you,” she said.
Straight on I directed myself to the party organiser. He was sitting at the table looking at me gloomy.
- “Unfortunately, we cannot give you your diploma,” pronounced he.
- “”What do you mean?!” exclaimed I.
- “We have got information that your father was a Colonel in the White Army. Besides that, your face doesn’t look like the most proletarian ones…”
- “Colonel in the White Army!?!” exclaimed I, “What else?! My father is a pensioner and to your information, pensions are not issued to white colonels!” I looked in very face of his – “and as concerns my face, true enough it doesn’t look like yours. Is that my fault?! Besides that, I have got the questionnaire, officially affirmed by the Institute where clearly it is written that I am of proletarian origin!”
The Party Organiser started to drum with his fingers upon the desk.
- “I’ll check this business,” pronounced he gloomily, “and now go get your Diploma!” he lifted the receiver of his telephone.
- “Is it everything ok there? Asked the secretary when came into the office.
- “No worries at all!”
- “Here is your Diploma,” said she in a friendly voice. It was rolled and tied with a narrow red bend. “I wish you all the best!” she stretched me her hand.

My father and Lidia waited for me. The table was already set. On it was a fried hen in the appetising sauce, pies, toast, plenty of vegetables and a bottle of vodka. I unrolled my Diploma.
- “Oh! Oh!” exclaimed my father, “Our boy is now a teacher of secondary school!”
Lidia have looked through my Diploma with great interest and filled in the glasses with vodka. We lifted them up for my success…

The next day I had a serious talk to my father informing him about my conversation with the Party Organiser. We considered the situation from all possible points and came to the conclusion that for both of us it would be better ,if I start my work somewhere far away from her so that it would not be easy for party jackals to trace me.
- “Any other way out?” asked I
My father became thoughtful… then told, ”First of all you have not to worry about me and Lidia. We’ll survive as we have done it before, but you start your own life, son, and that’s the main thing!” my father cast his look at me, “I don’t think you’ll be happy in Russia.”
Lidia nodes her head.
- “What have I to do then?”
- “Escape somewhere from this diabolical country!”
- “I thought already about that… It seams to me that the Caspian Sea would be the answer. I could get work in a school, let us say in Baku and wait for a chance to escape to Persia…”
- “It’s a brilliant idea!”
- “If so, I’ll act in this direction!”

A new academic year was approaching and I started to pack in. Lidia with the tears in her eyes helped me t put into my valise the things of the first necessity which I have to take with me. Then she left for the neighbouring room. She returned holding on her hand a small attractive box.
- “Here,” she said, “there in this box are several items of jewellery which could help you in your plans.”
I opened it. There were a golden bracelet adorned with precious stones, several earrings and rings.“Take care of then them and use them in case of urgency. That is from your mother’s inheritance…” said Lidia.