Figure 1.--This is the school uniform designed by Latvian fashion designers as formal uniform for Latvian schoolboys for the warmer months. It was, however, never implemented because it was not approved by the Soviet school authorities. This drawing appeared in the magazine "Rabotnitsa" (Moscow) about 1975. Strangely, fashions show-cased in Soviet fashion magazines were usually not actually available in stores. It was up to Soviet moms to sew them--without the aid of patterns.

Latvian education has been strongly affected by both German and Russian influences. The German influence continued even after Tsarist Russia seized control of the Baltics (18th century). This was because of the substantial German population in the cities. Tsarist Russia began a Russification process. After a brief period of independence, the Soviet Union continued the Russification process even more forcefully with great brutality. Latvia has undergone many wrenching political changes in the 20th century which have affected the education system. Latvia is a small country and the country and schools have been affected by the Russian goldsmith which has set out to Russify the country during both the Tsarist and especially the Soviet eras. The language of instruction was one of many tools. The development of the Latvian educational system can be divided into several distinct periods which basically follow the important periods in modern Latvian history and state development. Major changes occured during the Soviet era. A parallel system developed to accommodate the large number of Russian immigrants. With independence there were also major reforms, but the parallel language system continues. We have little no information on what Latvian school children wore in the Tsarist era or during the brief period of independence before the 1940 Soviet invasion. We note children without school uniforms right after World War II, but presumably as the country began to recover from the War, the standard Soviet school uniform became more common. As a Soviet Republic, Latvian school children wore the same standard school uniform worn all over the Soviet Union. Latvian designers suggested a change of uniform in 1975, but it was not approved by Soviet authorities. After independence in 1991, the Soviet uniform was dropped and children began wearing their regular clothe tom school as is he general pattern Europe.

Background

Latvia was for years part of the Russian Empire but obtained independence as part of the World War I Peace settlement and disorders associated with the Russian Revolution. Independent Lituanian was incorprated by the Soviets in 1940 after the NAZI-Soviet Non-Agession Pact of 1939. Soviet rule was short-lived as the Germans quickly occuplied Lituanian after they invaded the Soviet Union in 1941. The Soviets did not reistablish Communist rule until 1944. The United States and other western countries never recognized Soviet jurisdiction and Lithuania became an indepedent country in 1991 when the Soviet Union disolved.

Chronological Periods

Latvia has undergone many wrenching political changes in the 20th century which have affected the education system. The development of the Latvian educational system can be divided into several destinct periods which basically follow the important periods in modern Latvian history and state development. Latvia is a small country and the country and schools have been affected by the larger countries all around it, especially Germany and Russia. The first cities in Latvia were founded by German tradersa s part of the Hanseatic League. The first schools were founded by Germans in Riga. The Germans had a profound imoact in Latvian education. And this continued even after the Tsarist Russians seized control (19th centurty). This only ended after a brief period of independence with the Soviet take over (1940s). The Russian goliath which has set out to Rusify the country during both the Tsarist and more thoriughly during the Soviet eras. The language of instruction was one of many tools of Russification. Latvian regained its independence with the disolution of the Soviet Union.(1991). We do not yet have much infotmation on educatioin in modern Latvia.

Created: December 5, 2002
Last updated: 10:59 AM 9/1/2024