Ukraine battle: Russia begins faculty yr with new lesson: ‘There’s nothing to worry in dying for the motherland’ | Worldwide

September 1 is a big day for Russian youngsters. In a single Moscow suburb, college students obtained all dressed up and introduced flowers to a college ceremony accompanied by proud dad and mom. The children chatted with lecturers and performed within the courtyard as they waited for issues to get underway. The ceremony started with singing and the elevating of the Russian flag, a compulsory scholastic occasion initiated this yr. It’s a well-known custom in lots of international locations, however Vladimir Putin has launched one other obligatory extracurricular exercise in colleges – a category known as Essential Conversations.

The lecturers’ information for Essential Conversations may be very clear. A lesson for 10-year-olds poses the query, “What Russian sayings present that working for a extra affluent and exquisite motherland is an expression of affection?” The popular solutions are conveniently offered. “Don’t spare your power nor your life for the motherland”; “The motherland’s happiness is price greater than life itself”; “There may be nothing to worry in dying for the motherland”; and “To serve the motherland is to like the motherland.”

The query is a part of a lesson for grades 5-9 (ages 11-15) known as Our Nation is Russia that touches on the battle in Ukraine. The chapter begins with, “We see expressions of real patriotism on daily basis, particularly within the particular army operation.” It then recites the official rationale for the battle: “… agency and fast measures have been wanted [in Ukraine]”, together with “… defending the individuals within the Donbas area from harassment by the Kyiv regime, disarming Ukraine and stopping the deployment of NATO army bases there.”

The lesson ends with anecdotes concerning the battlefield exploits of a number of Russian troopers, together with an outline of an ambush the place the Russian hero “… found the Ukrainian nationalists and drove them right into a minefield the place they lastly surrendered.” It additionally praises a number of significantly wounded veterans and encourages the scholars to learn the tutorial materials.

“Are Russians patriotic?” is likely one of the key questions lecturers should ask the youngsters. However politics have been conspicuously absent on this primary day of college. As an alternative of flags, the kids held blue and purple balloons, and nobody wore the “Z” image of assist for the invasion of Ukraine on their new faculty garments. The battle was distant from the college courtyard that day.

A police automobile was standing guard outdoors the college. The primary day ended early, round midday, and the kids excitedly instructed their dad and mom all about it on the best way house. Lena Penzin, one of many moms, summed it up, “New faculty, new instructor, new buddies.”

Flag-raising ceremonies in colleges have been elective till Vladimir Putin made it obligatory this yr. In Might, the federal government budgeted 10 billion rubles (US$166 million) to purchase flags and different state symbols for colleges. Any further, each faculty will start the week with a flag-raising ceremony.

The Essential Conversations guides for October should not but accessible, however the matter for October 24 known as “Conventional Household Values” makes it straightforward to guess what the conversations will likely be about that day. The Russian Parliament just lately determined to think about an modification to an present legislation concerning dissemination of “gay propaganda” to minors, which can broaden its scope to ban dialogue of such matters between adults and on the web.

Among the matters included within the Essential Conversations curriculum are alarming. A piece about Andrei Sakharov, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate who was persecuted by the Soviet regime for his protection of human rights, by no means mentions his activism. “This excellent nuclear scientist was the daddy of the AN-602 hydrogen bomb, which got here to be often known as the Tsar Bomba throughout assessments,” says the guide, leaving out the truth that Sakharov was just one member of a giant group of scientists.

Essential Conversations will formally start on September 5, however President Vladimir Putin inaugurated the exercise at an occasion in Kaliningrad on September 1. In his speech to the gang of youths attending the occasion, Putin stated, “Ukraine was creating an anti-Russian enclave that threatens our nation… Our boys are preventing there to defend the individuals of the Donbas area and Russia itself, and this deserves the assist of each Russian.”

Each Monday, college students will likely be required to attend Essential Conversations, which seems to be extra of a lecture collection than teacher-student conversations. Criticizing the invasion of Ukraine is punishable by imprisonment underneath Russian legal guidelines that prohibit “discrediting the armed forces” and “spreading false data.” Alexei Gorinov, a Moscow metropolis council member, was sentenced to seven years in jail in late July for denouncing the Russian bombings that killed Ukrainian youngsters.

Schooling Minister Sergey Kravtsov just lately introduced that each faculty principal will likely be assigned an “advisor” from his division. As well as, Kravtsov will head the federal government’s new patriotic youth motion in colleges, which he guarantees will likely be voluntary. This new group will likely be known as Bolshaya Peremena (Nice Pause, in Russian) and can emulate Lenin’s Pioneers to “promote state insurance policies” amongst youngsters and youths.

The beginning of the brand new faculty yr coincided with an abrupt finish to Moscow’s exceptionally sizzling summer season, and a few dad and mom weren’t comfortable about it. “I’ve nothing to say, besides that it’s very chilly. I hate faculty,” Nina instructed us. Storm clouds coated the Moscow sky as she accompanied her son to highschool. “Fourth grade…which means we’re nearly a 3rd of the best way there. Endurance…” she instructed herself as a storm brewed on the horizon.