Russia’s playgrounds are becoming parade grounds. At schools from the Pacific to the Black Sea, children under nursery grades are being ordained to don uniforms and take part in marches Older kids are being taught how to dig trenches, throw grenades and fire with real ammunition.
In schools across the country, the service in the nation’s armed forces is being glorified, voluntary companies of teenagers are being formed and the national curriculum is being changed to emphasise the defence of the motherland. In short, the children are being prepared for war.
The militarisation of the Russian public schools has intensified since the Russian invasion of Ukraine driven not by a spontaneous surge of nationalistic feeling but by the government in the Kremlin, Moscow. The investment is huge and the education minister Sergei Kravtsov has said now there are about 10,000 so-called military-patriotic clubs in the Russian schools and colleges and a quarter of a million take part in the courses and work.
These clubs are a part of a multi-pronged effort that includes an overhaul of the school curriculum. There are mandatory classes on military-patriotic values and the updated history books accentuate Russian military triumphs.
Changing Textbooks
In the month of August 2023, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a new law that introduced a new mandatory course in schools: “Fundamentals of Security and Defence of the Motherland”. The education ministry has promoted courses that include military sports/games, meeting security and defence personnel and veterans along with classes on drones. High school, Students will be taught how to use live ammunition under the guidance of experienced military officers and instructors.
The program which is being tested this year and will be introduced in the year 2024, is designed to instil the students’ understanding and acceptance of military rituals, combat traditions, and uniforms. Modern history is being rewritten too. The standard textbook, The History of Russia now has the Crimea Bridge on its covers and a new chapter dedicated to the recent history of Ukraine and there are sections such as Falsification of History, Neo-Nazism and Russia is the country of heroes.
A new chapter falsely claims that Ukraine deliberately and openly declared its desire to acquire nuclear weapons and unprecedented sanctions have been introduced against Russia since the West is trying every way to bring down the Russian Economy.
Assembling Guns
Children as young as seven or eight are receiving basic military training. The children in Belgorod gave themselves call signs like “sledgehammers” and took part in the exercise that included the use of automatic weapons, assembling a machine gun and getting through an obstacle course.
In the city of Krasnodar, dozens of children who looked more than seven and eight years old marched in the Army and Navy Uniforms. They are also being taught to carry pictures of Russian war heroes. Similar situations have been observed in the Russian Far East to Yeysk on the Sea of Azov. President Putin has personally led the campaign to inject patriotism into the schools of Russia.
At an event at the Kremlin in the month of September 2023, he told a group of Children that his grandfather sent his father to fight and combat the Nazis in World War II and also told them “Beat the scum”
Next Generation (Army Service)
The Russian children are also expected to contribute to the war effort in several practical ways. These include letter-writing campaigns and the overall goal of the Russian Defence Ministry is to cultivate a sense of mutual assistance and high morale coupled with psychological qualities and prepare the next generation for service in the Russian Armed Forces.
There are instances where youth and children actively participate in a variety of competitions which encompass grenade throwing, overcoming obstacle courses, drill training, assembling Kalashnikov assault rifles, storing equipment and quizzes on military history. The military regularly visits schools too.
Reaction by Parents
The majority of parents and teachers are in support of the military curriculum. 79 per cent of parents are in favour of the regime. According to social media comments, many Russians feel surrounded and ostracised by hostile powers. They believe that the only option remaining is to defend the country. However, some parents have voiced their opposition.
