History of Primer

Russian Primer has always been not only the first book for any schoolchild but also a reflection of the culture and time. The illustrations and texts in Primers allow us to trace what life was like in the country at that time and what values were intended to be passed on to children.

According to historians, the first Primer in Russia was printed in 1574 by Ivan Fedorov. The Primer had 80 pages with 15 lines on each. The last copy of this rare book is kept in the Harvard Library. Historians disagree on whether this book was an Alphabet Book or a Primer, as the title page has unfortunately not survived (nor have any manuscript Primers been found). Children learning from this Primer had a very different approach than today – merely memorizing letters and syllables took 2-3 years, and only after that they could start reading. Ivan Fedorov’s Primer had no pictures, only ornaments – flowers, cones, and leaves.

The next Primer was published in 1634 by Vasily Burtsov. The book was highly praised by the Tsar and the Patriarch, and Vasily Burtsov even received the right to make his printing house semi-private. At that time, for most readers, the Primer was the only book in their life. Unlike the first Primer, this book used different fonts and  had added red color. Historians believe that with this Primer, literacy began to grow in Russia.
Then there was a Primer was published in 1679 by Simeon Polotsky, with an alphabet, syllables, and texts for reading. Simeon Polotsky was a monk, church and public figure, and teacher. He taught Tsarevich Alexei, and after his death, Tsarevich Feodor and Tsarevna Sophia. Simeon Polotsky advocated for visual and accessible learning, paying great attention to the individual traits of students and making learning interesting. His Primer also included rules of versification and information on syntax.

The next Primer appeared in 1692-1693, created by Hieromonk Karion Istomin, who was also a teacher of royal children. The Primer was originally published for the children of Peter I. Historians consider Karion Istomin to be the first children's writer, and his Primer contained poems written by him for each letter. The book was decorated with multicolored paints and gold. It is worth noting that in the 18th century, completely different Primers were printed for different social classes.

Theophan Prokopovich, a companion of Peter I, archbishop, and author of the next Primer, advocated for the spread of not only sacred scripture but also secular learning. His book “The First Teaching for Children” was published in 1720 and contained reading texts that were much more complex than those previously printed in Primers.
Catherine II printed “Grandmother’s Alphabet” to teach her grandchildren the Russian language – this was a Primer that also served as a reading book. In 1781, Catherine II wrote “The Russian Alphabet for the Education of Youth,” intended for public schools. The Alphabet was published anonymously, although everyone knew who its author was.
From the 19th century, alphabets were printed almost every year, although they were intended for noble children and home education.
At the same time, the Department of Public Education released “The Russian Primer for Teaching Reading” for the common people. It had only 28 pages, no illustrations, and was printed on cheap paper. Only 20 years later, in 1864, did Konstantin Ushinsky’s Primer come out – “The Native Word for Young Children,” the second book for reading after the Alphabet. This Primer had many illustrations, fairy tales, riddles, and proverbs. Some texts from that Primer are still used in reading education. The Primer was reprinted 147 times in total.
Konstantin Ushinsky is considered one of the founders of Russian scientific pedagogy. He managed to transform the Smolny Institute and make it the best in Russia. He began to build the educational process from simple to complex, which was innovative at the time, drew students' attention to a healthy lifestyle, and opened a two-year pedagogical course for Smolny Institute graduates. Works from his children's anthology “The Children's World” are still included in reading and literature textbooks. He believed that visual aids were the foundation of education and that the main task of a teacher was to teach students to think independently.
October 10, 1918, marks the day when a new orthography was introduced in Russia. The history of Primers after 1918 will be the topic of our next blog!

Sources:
https://mel.fm/zhizn/istorii/423618-ne-tolko-mama-myla-ramu-zakhvatyvayushchaya-istoriya-bukvarya--ot-srednikh-vekov-do-nashikh-dney?utm_source=mel&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=dzen
http://www.dates.gnpbu.ru/4-9/Simeon/simeon.html
https://dzen.ru/a/ZF36VUMdjCCZk1BB
https://sobolevskaya-sv.livejournal.com/490754.html
https://dzen.ru/a/W3p1jDzvUwCs-PnK?sid=107905030720132648
https://www.kommersant.ru/doc/5979143