Huntington, Kelly, ESL

Basic Facts

Country Name: 

• conventional long form:  Russian Federation
• conventional short form:  Russia  

Location:  Northern Asia bordering the Arctic Ocean, between Europe and the North Pacific Ocean  

Population:  143,782,338  

Ethnic Groups:  Russian  81.5%, Tatar 3.8%, Ukranian  3%, Chuvash  1.2%, Bashkir  0.9%, Belarusioan  0.8%, Moldavian  0.7%, & Other  8.9%  

Languages:  Russian, other  

Economy:  Russia experienced a financial crisis in 1998; however, the last five years have proven to be years of economic growth.  Strong oil exports earnings have enable Russia to increase its foreign reserves from $12 billion to $80 billion.  These gains, along with a renewed government effort to advance structural reforms, have increased business and investor confidence in Russia's economic prospects.  Despite this, serious problems still exist.  Russia is vulnerable to swings in world prices, a dilapidated manufacturing base, a weak banking system, a poor business climate, corruption, and a widespread lack of trust in institutions.  With the arrest of the CEO of a major Russian Oil Company in 2003, there are concerns that President PUTIN is granting more influence to forces within his government that desire to reassert state control over the economy.  

Industries:  mining and extractive industries producing coal, oil, gas, chemicals, and metals; machine building, shipbuilding, road and rail transportation equipment, communications equipment, agricultural machinery, medical and scientific equipment, textiles, foodstuffs and handicrafts  

Agriculture:  grain, sugar beets, vegetables, fruit, sunflower seeds, beef, milk

Background

Soon after WWI, the Communists under LENIN seized power and formed the USSR.  The brutal reign of STALIN strengthened Russian dominance of the Soviet Union at a cost of tens of millions of lives.  The Soviet economy and society stagnated until GORBACHEV attempted to modernize Communism.  His attempts separated the USSR into 15 independent republics.  Since this time, Russia has struggled in its efforts to build a democratic political system and market economy to take the place of the strict social, political, and economic controls of the Communist period.  While some progress has been made, under PUTIN'S rule a decline in these efforts has occurred.  Currently the government is a Federation.  This means that a president is elected by popular vote for a four-year term.  There is no vice-president.  If something happens to the president, the premier serves as acting president until a new election is held.

Family Life

• The family is highly regarded in Russia .  It has become the main social structure.

• Since the fall of Communism, the structure of the overall family has changed.  Russian families are now more urbanized, larger in abundance, and smaller in size.

• Children are considered an essential part of any successful, Russian marriage. 

• Western influence has made the upbringing of Russian children more challenging.  Children are now more outspoken in their families.

• Because Russia's economy is struggling, parents who wish to put the needs of their children first, are finding themselves without jobs.  This has forced many families to put aside the needs of their children and focus solely on survival.

School System

Russian children begin their school careers at the ages of 6 or 7.  They continue attending school for 10 years.  The school levels are divided into 3 sub-schools; primary, secondary and high school.  Primary lasts for 4 years, secondary lasts for 5 years, and high school lasts for 2 years.  The students usually spend all 10 or 11 years in one building.   

The normal class size is 20-30 students.  The students stay together from the first until the last grade.  Primary students have one teacher for all subjects.  

The school year is comprised of four terms with vacations in between.  The school day begins at 8 o'clock and ends at 1 or 2 o'clock in the afternoon.  Students attend school 5 days a week and some study on Saturdays.

Classroom Applications

• The Russian population is communal in nature.  In our district we have many Russian Baptists. A major emphasis in their lives is the church so families spend a great deal of time there.  This culture may need interpreters to help with the comfort level during school conferences and may need the use of the language line to inform the students of special activities. 
• Russian students may prefer to work alone or with other students from their culture.  Prompting may be required to help students understand the purpose of working with a group.