Propaganda in Russian schools prepares students to die
The Russian government wants children to learn about patriotism from an early age. DW spoke to students in Siberia about their views on propaganda, the war in Ukraine and their future.
In several schools across Novosibirsk, a city in southern Siberia, students have been handed a textbook focused on patriotism by authorities. The book urges pupils to be prepared to sacrifice their lives for their country, equates homosexuality with pedophilia and Disney cartoons with pornography, and portrays Europeans as thieves, murderers and liars.
Though not a part of the national curriculum, the book is used as part of weekly patriotism lessons, which have been mandatory since 2022. The material reflects Kremlin's intention to spread propaganda in educational institutions. The book extensively discusses the war in Ukraine and emphasizes that dying for one's country is a blessing.
It claims Russia is superior to Western countries and asserts that children are mentally damaged due to exposure to computer games, Hollywood movies, pornography and Disney cartoons. The authors also argue that European nations, once colonial empires, justified violence and plunder through conquest and subjugation of new territories.
Russia, on the other hand, never exploited its people, but improved their living conditions. The book omits any mention of Indigenous cultures or religions other than Christianity and Slavic paganism. A 16-year-old student named Ilya, who has read the book, expressed disdain for the idea of dying for his country, stating it is proof that the government seeks more cannon fodder.
He became opposed to the government after seeing Alexei Navalny's investigation into Putin's Black Sea palace, which led him to block access to YouTube and Discord. Ilya noted that the government invites veterans of the Ukraine war to lessons on future career prospects. Students are also encouraged to be patriotic, with consequences for wearing clothing displaying English slogans.
Another student, Alexei, expressed frustration at the comparison made by school officials between the "Great Patriotic War" and the war in Ukraine, and the comparison to the USSR's victory over Nazi Germany.
Written by urgent.news from DW News's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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