Soviet authorities placed a high priority on education, for several reasons. It was necessary to reeducate people socially and economically so they would participate willingly in the struggle to "build socialism." Huge numbers of engineers, technicians, and skilled laborers were needed to transform the Soviet Union from a backward, agrarian nation into a modern, industrialized one that could defend itself against the encroachments of the West. Education also served as the mechanism whereby future leaders could be identified and then trained to serve as the vanguard for the construction of a socialist society.

As part of its mission to proselytize youngsters, the Communist Party established the Young Pioneers. Modeled loosely on the Boy Scouts, the Young Pioneers offered boys and girls in middle school and high school the opportunity to participate in various social activities. At the same time, the youths were taught socialism...