Hello!

I'm Maxim Polyakov, a correspondent for the online magazine ‘7x7’.

Since the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Russian teachers have been justifying the war and defending Putin’s decisions. You might have heard of the weekly ‘Important Conversations,’ where children are exposed to propaganda narratives and told why the ‘special military operation’ is right. However, that's not the only noteworthy development in Russian educational establishments lately. I've seen so much news coming from schools in the past few weeks that I decided to dedicate this newsletter to it. I'll mix in stories from different parts of Russia with my own observations. But first, let's talk more about these ‘Important Conversations.’

Estimated reading time: 7 minutes

100% Propaganda

‘Important Conversations’ is an extracurricular subject featured in the syllabus of all Russian schools and colleges. They are held as the first lesson on Mondays in the form of discussions with the head teacher. Before the class, children may participate in a lineup, raise the Russian flag, or listen to the national anthem.

The first such lesson took place on September 1, 2022, six months into the war. Here's the official project description: "The primary goal of 'Important Conversations' is to foster civic and patriotic sentiments among students. During these sessions, children are taught about moral values, which later become subjects for discussion. The topics covered include historical memory; patriotism and love for the Motherland; family and its values; and science in the service of the Motherland."

The next lesson is scheduled for May 6 and will focus on the Soviet Union's victory in World War II. The accompanying slides for the lecture are currently hidden. However, there have been notable examples from past 'Important Conversations.' For instance, during the lesson titled 'Heroes of Our Time,' educators not only mentioned teachers and doctors but also military personnel; officials recommended using the following Russian slides in schools across the country. On March 18, 2024, children were taught about Crimea; the peninsula was annexed on this day 10 years ago, and now teachers are justifying this decision.

Shortly after the introduction of 'Important Conversations,' 'Meduza' published anonymous opinions from schoolchildren. Here are a few excerpts:

• "I've just learned about 'Important Conversations' and Monday lineups. Well, well. Sure, as a 10th-grader, I have nothing better to do than listen for the hundredth time about how f*****g amazing our country is, and all others are just so-so."
• "My version of 'Important Conversations' would include: 'First aid when…', 'Self-defense lessons for girls,' 'Sex education,' 'One hour with a child psychologist,' and so on. It would be much more useful than what we have now."
• "'Important Conversations' seem like a continuation of the genre 'An elderly relative has got drunk at a family celebration and decides to lecture the youth on how to live life right.' It's the same set of clichés unrelated to reality, plus a recap of TV."

Not all opinions, however, are critical. Many parents see nothing wrong with 'Important Conversations' because they themselves support Putin, the war, and the narrative of traditional values. Those who are against these lessons but do not know how to avoid them are in the most difficult position. I'll give you an example of such a situation.

Hard Choice

Right after the war began, I had many talks with my old classmate and his wife, who lived in a big Russian city. They were solidly middle class: a small house in the countryside, two cars, and successful careers. By spring 2022, they were feeling completely lost. Their parents were pro-war, and so were half of their friends, which led to some falling-outs.

For months, my classmate and his wife pondered their options. Finally, in winter 2023, they ventured to move to Turkey with their three kids. I asked them how they came to this decision. Their eldest son was 11, their daughter 8, and the youngest was barely a year old when they left. They told me it was the only way to shield their kids from propaganda and cut ties with the pro-war crowd around them.

Their time in Turkey turned out to be much harder than they expected, and they had to return to Russia after just two months. When I called them a few months later, my classmate's wife sounded worn out. She said, "Maxim, it's really tough for me. Our son hears propaganda at school, comes home, and repeats it. I have to sit him down and explain that not everything he learns at school is true. Sometimes these conversations go on for hours. And then I have to tell him not to talk about it at school. It's driving me crazy."

Now, my friends are trying to find a way to send their kids to a private school.

News and Commentary

Participants in the war in Ukraine are increasingly being invited to schools to address children, and headmasters are expanding beyond the confines of ‘Important Conversations.’ In this section, I'll provide you with a few examples.

• The headmistress of a school in the Vurnavy settlement, Republic of Chuvashia, invited a war participant to speak with the students. Later, journalists discovered that the soldier had been convicted of assaulting his wife and mother-in-law before going to Ukraine. This isn't the first instance; Russian authorities are clearly indicating that men breaking the law before military service isn't a concern. They have redeemed themselves in Ukraine and are hailed as heroes.
• In another case, a war participant invited to a school in Kostomuksha, Republic of Karelia, brought military equipment with him. The students enjoyed trying on body armor and helmets. The body armor, however, bore the symbol of the Wagner PMC and a patch reading ‘Cargo 200 we are together,’ a term referring to military fatalities. After the meeting, officials reported that the war participant "allowed children to experience the soldiers’ burden firsthand and participate in evacuating the wounded пfrom the battlefield." 
• Social activists suggested opening a school for ‘Children SMO volunteers’ in the Andra settlement of the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug. Students will learn the history of the Russian army and practical skills for producing aid for war participants and residents of Donbass. Pavel Yavkin, chairman of the local fathers’ club ‘Fortress,’ stated, “Within the school program, we aim to organize meetings with soldiers and doctors in hospitals, create camouflage nets, candles, and stretchers, and collect items for the wounded.”
• Tyumen will host a camp for teenagers aged 12 to 17, where they will learn to fly drones, conduct reconnaissance, and assist the wounded. Thirteen teams from various Russian regions have applied to participate. “We focus solely on subjects relevant to preparing SMO participants so that teenagers gain knowledge applicable in the modern world,” said Alexander Baybuz from the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug, the camp founder and head of a marine union. Organizers claim that such workshops will also benefit former military personnel, serving as a form of ‘social rehabilitation’ after the war.

Reading such news always deeply saddens me. The only source of hope for me lies in the opinions of independent educators and sociologists. They believe that modern children's minds are highly adaptable and can naturally discern truth from falsehood and nonsense. As soon as Putin's regime is over, they will shed military mindsets as quickly as Soviet schoolchildren forgot communist narratives.

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