Novosibirsk schools distribute textbook urging students to die for their country — DW — Deutsche Welle

Several schools in Novosibirsk, Russia, an aggressor state, received a manual on spiritual, moral and patriotic education from the authorities at the beginning of the year. Its authors urge children to prepare to die for their country, Deutsche Welle reports, citing students who spoke to the outlet anonymously.

The manual is to be used in patriotically oriented classes that have been part of the curriculum since 2022. The book is not included in the nationwide list of core educational publications, but, according to DW, its content reflects the Kremlin's efforts to spread propaganda in educational institutions.

Contents of the manual

One of the book's central themes is the war against Ukraine. The authors repeatedly promote the idea that dying for one's country is a good thing, linking love with sacrifice and life with the sacrifice of a defender of the fatherland.

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The manual also claims that Russia is supposedly better than Western countries and that children are allegedly becoming mentally damaged because of computer games, Hollywood action films, pornography and Disney cartoons. It equates homosexuality with pedophilia and portrays Europeans as thieves, murderers and liars. At the same time, the book's authors claim that Russia supposedly never exploited its numerous peoples but only improved their living conditions.

Schoolchildren's reaction

A 16-year-old student whom DW calls Ilya and whose name was changed told the outlet that he views the calls to die for the country as evidence of the authorities' need for more cannon fodder. According to him, schools hold weekly Monday classes called Conversations About Important Things and teach a subject called Fundamentals of Security and Defense of the Fatherland. Participants in the war against Ukraine are invited to classes devoted to the future and career choices.

Another 16-year-old student, Alexei, whose name was also changed, said that some of his classmates avoid patriotic events. Both schoolchildren, who want the war against Ukraine to end, plan to leave Russia after completing their education.