After the revolution in the autumn of 1918,
May's private educational institution was nationalized and converted
into the Soviet United Labour School. The school became
co-educational (i.e., for both boys and girls), and the use of
grades to evaluate students' knowledge was ceased.
Before World War II, the name of the school, the number of grades
(7, 9 or 10 years), and the school number (15, 12, 217, 17) changed
several times. May's educational traditions were maintained until
the winter of 1929 when, as a result of an anti-bourgeois campaign
widely spread in newspapers (such as the Leningrad Pravda issue on
January 15th, 1929), the majority of teachers and the school
administration were replaced. In fact, even the bas-relief over the
entrance door was destroyed. In the 1930's, K.I. Polyakov was the
director of the school, and R.V. Ozol was considered the soul of
the school. Ozol was a physical education teacher who was talented
in arranging excellent school festivities. During this period, the
school was stabilized, and pioneer and Komsomol organizations were
established.
Pursuant to the governmental resolution, the school housed the 6*
Special Artillery School formed by 8th-10th grade students of this
and nearby general education schools from the autumn of 1937 until
February 5th, 1942. Graduates of the 6th Artillery School fought on
the fronts of World War II defending and liberating their besieged
home city, Leningrad, took Berlin by assault. Of these graduates, 111
died in the heroic effort. Since 1984, the present school No. 5
(13* Line, No. 28) has been housing a museum of the 6th Artillery
School. This museum was created at the initiative of L.V. Chernenkova,
who was the director of the school at that time.
After Leningrad was liberated, lessons were again resumed in me
building on September 1st, 1944; however, me educational institution
was then called the 5th Secondary Men's School. In 1954,
co-ed schooling was re-established, and was named the 5th
Secondary School. Then, in 1966 at the initiative of A.S. Baturina
(the Director of Studies), a Museum of Military and Labour Glory
was founded where, for the first time, an exposition was created
which was dedicated to the prior revolution period and K. May.
However, the museum did not exist very long, and its exhibits did
not survive.
In 1976, the school (No. 5) was moved from the building in the
14th Line to No. 28, 13 Line because the old house needed repairs;
however, the funds were not allocated. The classrooms were equipped
with unique items including, furniture, recognition boards with
names of the school graduates, busts of writers and scientists
decorating the interiors. Unfortunately, though, these things were
left to the mercy of fate. Not much later, all of these were
plundered or misappropriated with no traces left to reclaim the
articles.
