The Kremlin has set up flag-raising in schools, where there will also be a class dedicated to patriotic education. AP photo
The Kremlin has established the flag-raising of the Russian flag as an obligation in all schools in the country, where there will also be a weekly lesson dedicated to patriotic educationa practice that will spread to Russian-controlled territories in Ukraine, where the school year begins despite the fighting.
In a meeting with students in the Baltic enclave of Kaliningrad, Russian President Vladimir Putin recalled a KGB colleague who taught him that the main value in life is “serving the country” Without expecting anything in return.
Putin stressed the importance of publishing history books with “reliable” information, how Ukraine “never” had its own state until the creation of the Soviet Union, and called on “all of society” to support the current “special military operation”.
At 8 am the national flag raising ceremony took place for the first time in a school in central Moscow. Because of this, all parents and students were summoned to the school yardthat in the case of the first courses they had to wear their best clothes.
The ceremony, which from now on will take place every Monday after which the flag will be lowered on Friday, was imposed by the Ministry of Education after the start of the Russian “special military operation” in Ukraine to promote patriotism among the children. youth.
The chosen bearers, distinguished students for their academic, intellectual and sporting achievements, they hoisted the flag on a tree installed to the right of the school building.
Subsequently, a Moscow deputy addressed the schoolchildren and, as tradition dictates, a girl in first grade rang the doorbell standing on the shoulders of a senior boy.
Patriotism
The controversy erupted in the parents’ chat when education authorities announced that the school week would start every Monday with a patriotic class called “Speaking of the Important”which its critics regard as mere “propaganda lessons”.
According to the script published by the ministry, during that half hour the tutors must promote national pride anchored in history, but also closely linked to the current military campaign, with lyrics, videos and songs.
Teachers should present the testimonies of the fighters so that the students understand this “The Russian military are heroes” and that “the residents in the people’s republics of Donetsk and Lugansk are Russian, and therefore it is important that they return to Russia”.
“Love the country, serve the country”, “The happiness of the country is worth more than life itself” or “For the motherland is not afraid to die” These are some of the answers that these classes expect from the student, according to the ministerial methodology.
Foreign Affairs spokesperson María Zajárova and RT channel director Margarita Simonián lectured teachers at meetings where they were urged to defend the interests of the state.
political commissioner?
In each school there will be an advisor to the director who will coordinate this work, it seems like someone they are already confronted with that of the political commissar in Soviet times.
Two teacher organizations urged students’ parents to boycott what they openly called “ideological project” of the Kremlin, as it promotes that the main ideal for a Russian is to serve the motherland, “often with weapons in hand”.
They believe that the very definition of the military operation and the allusion to the “kiev regime” and NATO “have nothing to do with patriotic education” and recall that, according to current legislation, “all propaganda in schools is prohibited “.
“We are convinced of it genuine patriotism cannot be brought up in an atmosphere of hatred, fear and imposition“, says the letter, which warns that these lessons cannot be compulsory, so they should be the last lesson on Friday.
According to the press, some teachers have already complained that these classes do not promote patriotism, but servility towards the Russian leadership.
Despite the intense fighting, the Russian authorities have decided to open the course in over 1,300 schools in the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republicsbut also from the occupied territories in the Ukrainian regions of Kharkov and in the southern regions of Kherson and Zaporizhia, partially controlled by Russian troops.
Putin has ordered the Interior Ministry and the National Guard to ensure the safety of educational centers, where the Ukrainian language will also be studied, although Moscow will publish a new manual.
Notably, Donetsk separatist leader Denis Pushilin and Russian Duma Deputy Chairman Andrei Turchak opened classes at a school in the port city of Mariupol rebuilt by the city of St. Petersburg.
Turchak, leader of the Kremlin party, has announced that the Russian authorities will publish “correct history manuals” with chapters dedicated to the military campaign.
Ukraine believes that the Russification of schools is the first step towards the annexation of these territories, so kiev warned that teachers who teach according to the Russian education program will be accused of collaborating with the occupier with the related criminal consequences.
Source: EFE
PB
Source: Clarin
