Khrushchev - Society

Conclusion

Although there were set back and failures overall lives were improved. Living Standards , healthcare and housing all improved under Khrushchev. There was economic optimism because of the space race and the then apparent success of the Virgin Lands scheme (in the 1950s).

Women

• Motherly portrayal continued
• Promiscuity punished - world youth festival
• 'Style hunters' - looked down on

Living Conditions

• More focus on it - budget doubled
• Improvements to healthcare
• 2 times more houses in urban areas - poor quality
• 10 times bigger than the kommunalka under Stalin
• Prefabricated
• Own kitchens, more private
• More consumer goods
• Harsh labour laws from Stalinist era repealed

Education

• Khrushchev tried to get schools in the countryside to group together and share resources - however most stayed badly equipped
• Doubled number of schools in towns and cities
• Number of teachers rose - 1.5 million in 1953 to 2.2 million in 1964
• Levels of education of teachers also improved - 1953 19% had university degrees 1964 40%
• 1956 fees for secondary education and universities were abolished
• 1959 - Special funds for poor secondary school students
• Result was the proportion of 17 year olds attending secondary education that had been 20% in 1953 rose to 75% in 1959

December 1959 education law

• Education compulsory for 7-15 year olds
• More vocational courses up to 19
• New lesson on the fundamentals of politics

The 1956 reforms

• From 1931 - 1955 the curriculum pretty much stayed the same
• 1959 reform introduced polytechnic education - reflected need for more skilled workers - focus on the physical
• More trips and work placements

The 1959 Reforms

• Even more polytechnic - because Khrushchev believed that an education made people feel that they were 'too good' to work in factories or farms

1960 - More relaxed code of conduct

1961 - Foreign languages taught - no more exams homework

1962 - Teachers can't expel students

Healthcare

• Budget doubled
• Death rates and infant mortality rates fell
• Available not always good quality

New laws

• Free lunches in schools, offices and factories
• Free public transport
• Full healthcare and pension rights for farmers

Novocherkask tragedy

• 1 June 1962 starts as 10 people and by the end of the day 20 people were on strike
• 2 June 1962 marches demanding higher wages - military 20 people and injured 40

Alcohol

• Population grew by 25% 1940-1980
• Alcohol consumption grew by 600%