russian Schoolchildren Are Being Prepared for Endless War

The kremlin is finally turning education into a tool of ideological warfare. What officials call “patriotic education”, is in fact systemic brainwashing of children. First deputy head of the russian presidential administration Sergey Kiriyenko already openly speaks about an “endless information war” with the West. And in this war, schoolchildren are becoming weapons.

The ministry of education of the rf has published a program called “Conversations About Important Things”. Thirty-two hours a year have been allocated for it, with the same topics for all grades: “heroes of russia”, “war songs”, “next door hero”. Parents report pressure on children: formally, the course is optional, but refusal to attend threatens with expulsion. Children are told that “heroism” and “courage” are part of the “russian code”, and that war and sacrifice are inseparable from identity.

The course is being introduced in kindergartens for the first time. It will also become mandatory in institutions in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine. Thus, propaganda begins to work with preschoolers, shaping their ideas about war even before they start school.

At the same time, the curriculum is being restructured: social studies in middle school are halved, and for grades 6–7, it is being eliminated altogether. Topics related to freedom, rights, and moral responsibility are disappearing. Instead, history as taught in Medinsky’s textbooks is being expanded almost one and a half times. An additional module, “history of our region”, will tell about the “heroic deeds of the participants in the invasion of Ukraine”.

Starting in September, music classes will include as a must “patriotic songs” by gazmanov and shaman. The state duma is outraged that jazz and classical music are still taught in schools and is calling for the idea to be extended to kindergartens.

From now on, all schools must work through the state messenger Max with access to cameras and microphones. Teachers must demonstrate “high activity rates” in this system, effectively becoming elements of digital surveillance of children and parents.