The Head of the House of Romanoff sends her congratulations on the 70th anniversary of the founding of the Institute for the Study of Pedagogical Theory and History of the Russian Academy of Education

The Head of the Russian Imperial House, H.I.H. the Grand Duchess Maria of Russia, has sent her greetings to the participants of an international scholarly conference “Pedagogical Science: Its Origins and Future,” which was convened to mark the 70th anniversary of the founding of the Institute for the Study of Pedagogical Theory and History of the Russian Academy of Education:

I send my heartfelt congratulations to the fellows of the Institute for the Study of Pedagogical Theory and History of the Russian Academy of Education, and my greetings to all the participants of the international scholarly conference “Pedagogical Science: Its Origins and Future.”

High-caliber teaching is the foundation for every aspect of life in every country. Over the centuries in Russia, there has evolved a highly effective scholarly and professional method for preparing competent and conscientious specialists and for producing responsible citizens of our great homeland.

In today’s rapidly changing world, there is an inevitable and constant need to look for new forms and methods of teaching and learning. It is therefore essential to remember that the modernization of pedagogical theory and educational practices can only be effective and beneficial if it is undertaken in a way that maintains continuity with the past.

History has many times shown that reforms that seek to make a clean break with past traditions never end well. Only by combining the new ideas and technological possibilities available today with a healthy sense of respect for the heritage and experience of prior generations—both pre-Revolutionary and Soviet—will the current efforts to restructure the Russian education system produce fruitful outcomes.

But we should never in any case allow the educational process to be transformed in such a way that it will produces only narrow specialists who have a limited outlook on the world. To do so would be fatal from a spiritual and cultural perspective, of course, but very dangerous for social, political, and economic processes in our country, because when crises strike in various sectors of the economy, those who do not have broad knowledge and flexible skills will find themselves unable to adapt to the new circumstances, and their frustration could breed and strengthen social unrest.

It is just as important not to destroy the human connections that underlie the relationship between teachers and students.

The computerization of the learning process, for all its usefulness and convenience, should never replace the constant and close personal contact between teachers, scholars, and other educational professionals on the one hand, and college- and school-age students, on the other.

I feel sure that your efforts will help enable Russian education to move forward in ways that will combine innovation and tradition, and I wish you all every success in your work for the betterment of our country.

My son and heir, Grand Duke George of Russia, also sends his warmest greetings to you all.

May God bless you!

(The original is signed in Her Imperial Highness’s own hand:)

H.I.H. the Grand Duchess Maria of Russia

Madrid

May 28, 2014