Arr! Russia's young scallywags set sail for school, bracin' themselves for patriotic lessons, whilst Kremlin be still fightin' in Ukraine!
2023-09-01
Arrr! Mateys in Russia be sailin' back to school, but beware! They'll be learnin' new lessons to make 'em loyal to the Kremlin, as Russia keeps clashin' with the West and Ukraine. Avast!
Clad in white shirts and carrying bouquets, children in Russia returned to school where the Kremlin's narratives about the war in Ukraine and its confrontation with the West took an even more prominent spot. Students are now expected each week to listen to Russia's national anthem and watch the country's flag being raised. There's also a weekly subject called "Conversations about Important Things" which aims to boost patriotism. The new high school history textbook includes a chapter on the annexation of Crimea and the "special military operation," and some basic military training is included in self-defense and first aid courses.President Vladimir Putin personally met with 30 school students from different regions, describing Russians as "an invincible nation." The Kremlin called it "an open lesson" as part of the "Conversations About Important Things" program. The Kremlin's increased focus on young people arose several years ago when teenagers and students participated in unauthorized protests organized by opposition leader Alexei Navalny. Putin started meeting with young people regularly and authorities invested in pushing their political narrative. The crackdown intensified after Moscow sent troops to Ukraine, resulting in teachers being fired or forced to quit for refusing to hold sessions of the "Conversations About Important Things."
Parents have expressed concerns about these mandatory lessons and the militarization of school students' minds. Some parents are grateful to teachers who aren't strictly following the directives and are avoiding politics. They believe well-educated and critical-thinking teachers will be able to circumvent the requirements and quietly sabotage them. However, others worry that Russian schools are rapidly turning back to the worst Soviet examples, with two histories and two truths existing. Overall, the Kremlin's efforts in shaping the minds of young people and promoting its political narrative have become more pronounced in Russian schools.