Domestic Tutor

(and domestic teacher), a teacher charged with the upbringing and instruction of children in a family. In tsarist Russia, these titles were conferred upon individuals who had passed the required examinations in a university, pedagogical institute, Gymnasium, or district school. In addition to knowledge of subjects, “good” moral qualities, Russian citizenship, and membership in the Orthodox Church were required. Both titles also gave the right to teach in private boarding schools and in the lower grades of municipal schools. Women’s Gymnasiums conferred upon those students who had completed the basic course and the eighth supplementary grade and who had been awarded the gold or silver medal the title of domestic tutor (domashnii nastavnik); those who did not receive medals were awarded the title of domestic teacher (domashnii uchitel’). These teachers were under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Public Education; after working more than 25 years, they were entitled to a pension from the state for life.