In brief
In 2025, three years after the onset of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, a significant resistance is growing against state-mandated “patriotic education”. Many Russian parents and educators are making considerable efforts to protect children from a curriculum steeped in nationalistic propaganda.
Some schools clandestinely alter their schedules to minimize exposure to these classes while other parents opt for homeschooling. For those navigating traditional educational environments, the challenge is daunting; they contend with a barrage of pro-war rhetoric infused into everyday lessons. Varvara, a mother from St. Petersburg, describes her family's struggle to avoid indoctrination, stating, "You constantly have to play cat-and-mouse with the school." She details encounters with military-themed contests and pro-war discussions that permeate school outings.Initially underestimated, the Kremlin's aggressive push for patriotic education has expanded widely, affecting schools across the nation. Many critics and analysts assert that this program's influence is now deeply entrenched, stretching beyond economically vulnerable regions. Parents and educators alike worry about the long-term impact of this systematic indoctrination on their children's worldview and understanding of current events.
