“The text of the manual justifies military operations in the eyes of schoolchildren”: Tomsk teachers about the lessons on the situation in Ukraine

A few days ago, the schools of the Tomsk region received methodological instructions for conducting lessons devoted to military operations in Ukraine. Teachers are recommended to say that in Ukraine there is not a war in Ukraine, but a “special peacekeeping operation, the purpose of which is to restrain nationalists oppressing the Russian -speaking population” and protecting people from “genocide from the Kyiv regime”.

The same manuals entered other regions of Russia. The journalist talked with several teachers of history and social science about whether they insist at their school on such class hours, and about their attitude to the content of manuals. We publish anonymous monologues of teachers.

"Children are tired that this is discussed everywhere"

Today (03.03.2022 - editorial approx.) At our school, teachers of history and social studies were gathered. They announced that the guidelines had come, but there was no direct order to follow them. That is, yes, there is an indication, if desired, you can tell about it. It seems to me that adequate teachers are unlikely to focus on the manual, few people want to devote attention to this lesson time. Several times the director said that everything needs to be done to avoid conflicts between children on national soil. After all, there are many children of different nationalities at school.

Teachers discussed, of course, that this training is complete garbage, to put it mildly. The same thing happened in 2014, when the Crimea was attached. Then the film also came about Crimea and it had to be shown in the lesson, but the teacher himself determined whether he would show or not. Now a cool watch will be held, and someone will say something about the war on them. But the children themselves seem to be tired of all this. Today, one high school student began to talk about how patriotism grew up in Russia in the last few days, and the other simply shut up it. She said that enough to trigger this topic.

At first, the children asked about my relationship to war - he answered that I was not a political scientist and I did not go to Putin’s rooms, so I have nothing to say. Now no one is asking anything. The children are tired that this is discussed everywhere: in television, in social networks, at home. I think if the teacher does not speak about the war at school, then it’s already good.

Photo: Author:

"In our school, all the teachers are against the war in principle"

The director called teachers of history and social studies, instructed not to sow propaganda and not speak out in favor of one of the parties to the conflict. I said that I would answer the questions of schoolchildren that I am against the war and wish it as soon as its end. The training manual was not given to us, there was no instructions to say “special military operation” instead of “war”. I do not think that our director is so immersed in the conflict and understands the importance of these formulations. Teachers did not discuss the training manual, but they talk about the war regularly. In our school, all the teachers are against war in principle. I know that in many teaching groups, the war was met with enthusiasm, but we do not have this. We all reacted to the war as something very dangerous, unpredictable and deadly.

The text of the manual justifies military operations in the eyes of schoolchildren: people who are most vulnerable and susceptible in mental and intellectually. Thus, this manual may well cause harm to the emerging personality and create the image of the world and other countries in the student as gathering enemies.

Interestingly, at the beginning of the performance it is said about demilitarization and denazification. These are two points from the famous Four D: four measures applied to Germany after the victory over it allies in 1945. Only “democratization” and “decartialization” were also included there. Russia could also voice these two “D”, but it is not going to carry neither democracy nor decartelization to Ukraine. Because cartels and oligarchic capital are the basis of modern society, and Russia simply cannot carry democracy in this case - it is difficult to carry democracy to those who have more it than yours.

Author: Reuters

Donetsk and Lugansk regions are the territories of the sovereign Ukrainian state that decided to separate arbitrarily. Now it makes no sense to talk about the legal lawfulness of this decision. It makes no sense to talk about whether the inhabitants of Donbass are to blame - of course, they are not to blame, these eight years they have been in the power of armed people on both sides of the conflict. They deserve only sympathy. But, let me remind you when Chechnya wanted to leave the composition of the Russian Federation, its capital and many villages were equal to the ground. Not just bombed, but destroyed. Although Chechnya is not even one percent of the territory of Russia and is not as important territorial as Donetsk and Lugansk for Ukraine.

"He said that I will not pour anything in their ears"

Two days ago there was the first training manual, and yesterday (03/01/2022 - editorial approx.) They sent the second. The first was called the “Conversation of the Important”, it is for grades 9-11, and the second is something in the spirit of “Greatness of my country”, it is for the middle link. The training manuals were thrown out only in the general chat, there were no specific instructions from the school administration, they did not insist on conducting a thematic lesson.

As a person, burdened with historical education, not pedagogical, but TSU, in places it was funny, in some places sad, in some places I wanted to throw my own country's passport. At the end of the second manual, achievements are listed, such as the construction of the Vostochny Cosmodrome. But let's indicate how many billions of rubles were stolen during construction, and why Rogozin is still not only in prison, but at least not under investigation. There are about prospects for young people-we have 70% of people not working in their specialty after release. There is an excellent way of contribution to the education system - let's show the flowing roof at the school where I work. I am not saying that it is like this everywhere, but I see it in place.

High school students saw this training manual, and I said that I would not pour anything in their ears. These are my lessons, a story is held on them on a particular program. Only she will be and, perhaps, my opinion. He also gave them advice to think about exams, no matter what happened, not to succumb to hysteria and panic. It was important for me to direct the children to those difficult things that they are coming to. Although I honestly told them that the economic consequences for our country will be primarily from what is happening.