Republic of Kalmykia

Posts Tagged ‘School’

Chess is a required subject for all children in Kalmykia, a Buddhist region whose authoritarian president, Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, also happens to be the president of FIDE.

For years Kirsan Ilyumzhinov has been trying to make chess more appealing to television audiences by expediting the matches and encouraging running commentary. He even pushed successfully for mandatory drug testing for chess players Read the rest of this entry »

President of Kalmykia billionaire Kirsan Ilyumzhinov about corrupt system of the Brezhnev nomenclature in Soviet Union.

“Okay, we will see who is a hero during the exams!” the teachers would say, “just you wait!”

However, foolhardy as we were, we did not pay the slightest attention to what they told us. As examtime approached even the most reckless of us grew more docile and quiet. No one wanted to get into conflict with the teachers. Naturally we all wanted to finish school with a normal certificate which would make it possible for us to study at an institution of higher education. The pupils’ activity levels had risen visibly. Everyone zealously tried to improve his or her marks, preparing diligently for lessons, and raising a hand whenever our teacher asked this or that question.

The corrupt system of the Brezhnev nomenclature Read the rest of this entry »