Steering wheel, horse and ant

The students of the school in the village of Demyan Poor Tambov Region calls their teacher the Luntik, because he "fell from the moon." But in life, in order for something to change, there are often people who know how to show on a personal example that it happens in a different way

Pre -defense

- Hello, tell me, what is your table next to the outlet? - Oleg flies into an empty cafe. For Zherdevka, the district center of the Tambov region, it is a little expensive.

- And for what purpose are you interested in? - The hostess of the institution is annoyed by a young man with a laptop. But Oleg does not notice this, in a hurry to tell the examiners about their program for different ages.

Oleg Orlov is a member of the Teacher for Russia ( UDR ) program, created by the Charitable Fund for Support and Development of Education “New Teacher” and the financially supported PJSC “Cberbank of Russia”. All teachers of the UDR who are going to teach at regional centers and rural schools officially students of the Higher School of Economics, which means that at the end of two -year practice, must protect the final work. In his work, Oleg relied on his own experience at the school of the village of Demyan Poor, where, due to the small number, the fifth and sixth grades were simply united in one. Meanwhile, no one canceled the program united for secondary schools in Russia. And he wanted to make lessons equally interesting for both five -graders and six -graders, lay the program for two years a year.

One of Oleg’s tools is “concepts”, when a certain global concept is discussed in the lesson, confirmed by examples from the history of different eras. Say, “movement” or “path”: here the Varangians with the Greeks can be remembered, and the great relocation of the peoples, and the crusades, and much more of school manuals, which is important to use. It turns out to the guys are interested in, and the problem of different -aging classes is removed, and it is not boring to sit on the inventing of the lessons.

Steering wheel

“In total, I still have four tattoos,” Oleg answers my dumb question. - Black square, sea horse, ant and steering wheel. Well, the steering wheel is understandable ... "

Demyan Poor is 120 km from Tambov. Oleg overcomes this distance several times a week photo: Kristina Syrchikova for TD Oleg photo: Kristina Syrechikova for TD

The conversation takes place in the car. Oleg needs to call in the village of Novorusanovo to pick up his wife Katya (the guys met on the program) from a sudden opener with wards. Understand that he is late for a meeting in Tambov, to quickly replay everything, to shoot at the nearest establishment, where he catches a mobile Internet, to prejudice online in a roadside cafe. Return Katya back, because the future mommy is better not to shake the tablets of the Tambovshchina, if the next day all the same to everyone together for a “reception” in a neighboring village to Lyuba. Also, of course, from UDR.

Lyuba is a psychologist that for a rural school a rare phenomenon. The other day, she moved to a new house, and on the eve of the same Oleg brought her home on the way from a meeting in the Tambov education department, because only regular buses go from the city to the villages, and this is not a non -guaranteed business, the bus may simply not happen ... “But everyone understands,” Lyuba has fun, “that it is difficult to demand from such logistics ... hmm. You can even be late for the meeting for a day. ”

Logistics is an Oleg’s special pain and all his colleagues. You can come up with as many interesting undertakings for schoolchildren, but most of them are broken about a banal inability to take children out of the village. Even to the neighboring village at the Nightingale or Lilac festival, primrose or a “good neighbor”. After all, GBOU may have only one bus for several schools in different villages.

School in the village of Demyan Poor photo: Kristina Syrechikova for TD

“I always traveled a lot,” says Oleg. - When I showed the guys photos, they did not even believe that I was in all these places. For them, Moscow is already something beyond, and here are the seas, mountains, Europe. But the strangest thing, I remember how one day on the way to the most salty lake of Russia, Baskunchak, my friends and I saw on the highway a pointer to Demyan poor and even joked that it was necessary to call in the village with this name. Apparently, fate gave hints, although then I could not think that it was here that I would spend the most important two years in my life. I would like to show so many things to the guys, because Tambov literally breathes with history. But so far it was possible to go to Ivanovka only to the Rachmaninov estate (and there were not a fight there almost a fight). But it would be possible in Tambov. But for this you need transport. But he is not. If the colors - brushes - books - we can buy games ourselves with our money (which we do regularly), then you can’t buy a bus, here we can only ask for “upstairs”. ”

"Supporting"

Not all of the thirty teachers who are currently working in the regional schools reached a meeting in the education and science department of the Tambov region: partly because of the same intercity buses, partly due to preparation for summer camps. Almost none of the students have the opportunity to go on vacation somewhere outside their native villages, so they are organized by leisure in the same classes. Most often, a visit to these camps is forced, and schoolchildren go there from under the stick. The local authorities would very much like to change this, and they see potential in the guys from UDR.

The House of Culture in the village of Demyan is poor. Previously, discos were held in this room. Photo: Kristina Syrchikova for TD View from the House of Culture Photo: Kristina Syrchikova for TD

In the speech of young teachers, the definitions of “supportive” or “non -maintaining” administration often skip. All project teachers are frequent guests of local authorities. We have to ask - either a bus, then a teaching permit. The program participants meet each other and are ready to come to neighboring villages to conduct unplanned lessons - painting for example. But without appropriate pieces of paper, this is difficult: the Russian mentality dictates a wary attitude to everything free and unsocumented.

Enthusiastic teachers are perceived in villages as something foreign, and therefore their main task at first is to prove to the local community that you are worthy of a good relationship.

“At first, no matter what rumors went about me,” Oleg grunts, “and when they found out about children from my first marriage, here I became a“ alimony ”for a long time. The legend was that I was hiding in Demyan. It warmed only after the first New Year's feast with the teachers, when all the painful questions were asked to me, an intimate conversation took place - and everything was working. And when I made friends with the local priest, I completely became a “decent person”. ”

Someone easily manages to find their place in the village: they carry cabbage with potatoes, take care, help (this is when the “supporting” administration). And it turns out to someone. If the relationship has not been set from the very beginning, anything can become a “fatal” mistake, even an extra pack of cigarettes in the store.

The last call in the village of Demyan is poor.
This year, five schoolchildren launched from a nine-nine school. Christina and Olesya plan to go to the tenth grade. Every day they will go to lessons to neighboring villages photo: Kristina Syrechikova for TD

“We are all very different,” Oleg answers the question of what in UDR more: ideologies and desire to improve the education system in the regions or parties with interesting, bright like -minded people, “everyone pursues their goals in the project. If, for example, Militsa from Serbia is the story of a bright love for Russia, then someone has a systematic construction of a career. One thing unites us: we are all about doing. Do not rant in kitchens, but to do what is possible. We are talking about children. About people. About what you can try to change. ”

Ant

“Another of my tattoo is an ant,” Oleg continues. - This is a story from the past. As a child, I had an ant farm. He built himself. It was extremely interesting for me to observe what processes occur in their colony. I even settled several forest reds into the territory of black ants and watched who would win in this war (red blowing, if that). And the story became interesting to me not by chance. I have always been an observer. I wanted to understand how everything works in this life. What drives people, nations, personalities. He always pulled the children, so he even led a group in kindergarten, but crushed unrealization. I wanted to tell stories, share knowledge and ideas. Therefore, he began to look for vacancies in schools.

The last call in the village of Demyan is poor.
This year, five schoolchildren launched from a nine-nine school. Alyosha, Danil and Ismail are going to enter a technical school. Photo: Kristina Syrchikova for TD

And then an old friend reminded me of “teachers for Russia”. It turns out that we once already discussed this program. And then the competition was announced. And I decided. A test passed, then a skypeobalism. At first they refused me. I was upset, of course, but there were options, and I almost left to work in St. Petersburg when they called me again and invited me to work in Demyan. Honestly: I did not agree right away, I thought for a long time, but then I still realized: this is mine. ”

Over two years of work in Demyan, the poor Oleg spent a holiday of colors with the guys (everyone walked, strewn with cauliflower), went not on one campaign, pipe the first full -fledged summer camp at the school, drew a lot of festive discos in the club (where the roof is flowing and showered, but “there is no money, you are holding there”) and even made the impossible: along with four students: along with four students: with four students: with four students: with four students: with four students: with four students: with four students: with four students: with four students He staged an amateur performance “Gifts of the Magi” according to O'Genry and took out the production to Moscow to the festival!

Oleg in her office photo: Kristina Syrchikova for TD

“The distrust was enormous. No one expected that we would really leave for Moscow. There is one here. Children are afraid to want more. And the first reaction to everything: “Nothing will work.” At some point, it even seemed to me that many were delighted when the trip was in question (the school administration did not want to give consent to the trip at first, but then they softened). And when everything succeeded, I felt dual messages: respect and gratitude in half with indifference. ”

Ovka

“The sea horse is the only male individual in the animal world that bears offspring. Paternity is very important to me. Today in society, it is somehow not customary to talk about the happiness of being a dad. But I love it. And no less important for me are relations with students. I am insanely interesting to me, with everyone. I try to listen and hear them, understand. And when revelations suddenly happen - this is the most valuable thing that could be. That's why such a tattoo. I was incredibly lucky that it turned out to combine different layers of my life. Daughters - Sashka and Dasha - came to our summer camp in Demyan. They made friends closely with the girls from the younger school (I don’t teach them, but, of course, I know everyone-the school is small). They were delighted with our studies, local nature. ”

Only fifty -three children are studying at the village of the village. And many children call Oleg Orlov Luntik.

“It is very interesting with him,” Katya’s enthusiasm will enthusiastically from the seventh grade. -He is generally different, he is even furious differently. I don't know how to explain. But it is cool that he comes up with something all the time. And other teachers, by the way, began to yell at us less since he appeared. ”

High school students sometimes show skepticism. “Something you are some small, Andreich,” they look at the photo from the graduation on the phone. “But what kind of pusiki you are, just mupsidols,” Oleg is not lost. And hefty foreheads turn red.

In March, Katya and Oleg got married in Moscow. Katya is a teacher of French, English and drawing photos: Kristina Syrchikova for TD Demyan Poor photo: Kristina Syrchikova for TD

The Moscow teacher is a curious acquisition for the village. In his life, a lot to the guys remained incomprehensible. Why, for example, does he not watch TV, although he has and works? Why is the dog walking on a leash? Why does he have so many friends (and even women who are about horror! - not even wife)? Why does he offer to study without assessments (then, of course, he sets, because parents are nervous and the director demands, but remains with his own: you need to study for yourself, for knowledge, interest, development, and not for assessments)? Why is inviting to visit, singing tea, talking, listening, even studying the unusual music and hobbies for himself?

“My house is at once at the school, so from the very first days the guys constantly snooped under the windows, strove to peep. It killed me: well, interesting to you, well, ask, ask. I immediately said to them: “My doors are open, come in, we will be friends. Just do not forget the shift.” At first they were shy. The kids went the first. They will now get out for a walk around the village, you can have no doubt. New people for them are the main entertainment. They are bored here, of course, to everyone. Nobody really does anything. Then the elders pulled themselves up. So the tradition of gatherings began. Then they completely relaxed, wrote all sorts of messages to me on the walls and on the tile in the kitchen. The teachers did not understand for a long time why I would behave like that, but they were also used to it over time. ”

Hassan

In the village of Demyan, a poor school is the main building. Almost like a temple and a store. But there is no Internet in the temple and store. And there is at school. And for this reason, it is a powerful magnet for all students, even if they hate their studies. It is funny that it was from the school that the inveterate small bully Huligan Hassan sent Oleg Andreyevich swearing messages on VKontakte. The general meaning came down to the fact that the teacher did not return from the city, because "the house burned, the school burned, everyone died." You do not need to be a psychologist to understand: this is a victory. If you were given a nickname, if they are dedicated to stupid inscriptions on desks, if they are sent records about how you are not needed - you saw, appreciated, accepted, and even, they loved.

Oleg's house in the village of Demyan Poor Photo: Kristina Syrchikova for TD

“I always try to do something life-affirming with the guys. A simple example of motivation: for a long time I could not understand how to convince one of my graduates, that he, too, is a worthy, amazing person. Then it dawned: you are bilingual! You know perfectly two languages ​​- Russian and Kurdish (in Demyan half of the population - the Kurds that once settled here, since there was work at the state farm). It would seem a simple thing, but the guy never thought about it. And then suddenly became significant. He was suddenly respected by the guys - for what has always been. The guy has blossomed, the grades have improved, and will go to the technical school now. My goal is to bloom everyone. That's why we write cards and wishes for each other for the summer, next year. We write on tea drinks at the end of May two good deeds for a year with each student. I then collect lists together so that the guys see how much good they do, how many achievements any of them have. This is inspiring. "

The guys write postcards and Oleg. One of them is from that very Hassan. “I'm sorry that you are leaving. It would be better if you stay, but this is your right. You still come. I will miss you. "

Kate

Oleg is a participant in the second set of UDR, that is, he worked his two years and now must decide what to do next. The likelihood that he will leave the village is striving for a hundred percent, because on the project he found his beloved woman - his third child’s wife and future mother.

“The first time we met somewhere in the Kaluga region,” Katya’s wife recalls, answering the question: “How did this happen to you?!” - There was an UDR summer camp. Then we met again in Tambov. Then again somewhere. Then I began to go to Oleg to school to conduct drawing lessons. Well, how does this happen at all? .. "

It is impossible not to fall in love with Katya. After the greeting, the children of Demyan after greeting ask Oleg, when the beautiful Catherine will come with them. They were the first to insist that Oleg and Katya get married. And after a summer camp at school and Oleg’s daughters, they had a serious conversation with his father: “We think, you need to marry Katya.” “Yes, I myself think so,” Oleg answered them.

Night road to the village of Demyan Poor photo: Kristina Syrechikova for TD Road photo: Kristina Syrechikova for TD

The guys signed exactly a year after meeting (and this is not the first wedding as part of the UDR project). They are not yet particularly established - they live in two apartments: in the Katina city new building - a large balcony and a sociable young cat, in the Oleg's rural house - the Spartan situation, interruptions in water, a loud and fast dog of a crook. You have to carry even a scraper for graduation from Tambov, because the iron is there. But the most difficult thing is that the happy expectation of offspring is directly related to sadness from the forced parting with the Tambov region.

“Katya loves the guys. And it is very difficult for me to recognize this period passed. I sprinkle in my students. How will I leave them?! It seems to me that the most important thing in the UDR project is the desire for continuity. The program does not go to other regions if all previous developments are not closed with fresh frames. It makes no sense to come to the village for a couple of years, and then throw this school. It is important to supervise constantly, to grow at least one generation that will know that studying is not boring, that dreaming is not scary. I am glad that my wonderful colleagues from the new set will remain in Demyan Poor, but in no case I would never want to break off relations with Demyan.

After all, we are not only learning, we ourselves learn. Меня покоряет, что тут еще живо уважение к Учителю (в Москве я привык, что каждая мама может начать тебе объяснять, как лучше преподавать ее ребенку, а тут — ничего подобного, тут профессионала чтут). Меня безмерно радует, что детей принимают, какие они есть (с любым отклонением — никаких проблем с инклюзией тут нет, все просто любят детей, потому что они — дети). Здесь так много простого и правильного, от которого мы почему-то отвыкаем в городах. И это нельзя не ценить».

Черный квадрат

«Четвертая моя татуировка — черный квадрат, — улыбается Олег. — И я даже не знаю, про что она. Это ведь может быть вообще что угодно. Как хочешь, так и трактуй. Может быть безграничный ужас, а может быть новая дверь».

Недавно в селе Демьян Бедный установили фонтан. Не то чтобы он был сильно нужен. Нужнее восстанавливать здания. Нужнее завершать недострой. Нужнее вышка связи, потому что в поселке нет мобильного интернета, да и телефон ловит плоховато. Нужнее ремонтировать дамбы на подъездах к селу. Но все это слишком дорого. А фонтан — «подъемно» для совместных усилий сельсовета и местного фермера-благодетеля. И красиво. Так что теперь напротив школы стоит фонтан. От него расходятся никуда не ведущие мощеные дорожки. Стоят пустые лавочки. И изредка рядом появляются случайные путники.

Олег Фото: Кристина Сырчикова для ТД

Местные очень гордятся фонтаном. А Олег его недолюбливает. Ему кажется, что красота должна быть в другом. В самих людях. И в их возможностях.

«Мы когда с ребятами в Москву ехали, мне один мальчик вдруг сказал: “Я вот не хочу, чтобы мир роботы захватили”. Спрашиваю, откуда такие мысли. Отвечает: “Сейчас много всяких устройств, гаджетов, все тянутся к технике. А я природу люблю. Мне кажется, не нужны людям никакие роботы. Природа — это все, что нужно для счастья”. Эти слова меня наизнанку вывернули. Это ведь правильная штука. Но я хочу, чтобы идея эта возникала у ребят из сел не от безнадеги и безысходности, а по их собственному выбору, когда они уже попробовали все, что хотелось: и большие города, и другие страны, и творческие профессии, быть может, не очень понятные их родителям, и многое, многое другое…»

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