History lessons

Since December school is three hours a day, from nine to twelve, while there is light from the grid. In the afternoon the building is cold and dark anyway. The older classes come to my house on Wednesdays and we sit in the kitchen by the stove, eight of them, with their coats on, and read about the Kokand khans. Again the Kokand khans, I know. It is the only syllabus that keeps well in the cold.

The kitchen table on Wednesday. Eight glasses of tea, eight exercise books.

Tell your children to wear two pairs of socks. The headmaster asks the parents who can to bring one piece of firewood each Monday. Last Monday there were 94 pieces.