To mark the anniversary of what Russia calls the “Crimean Spring,” the country’s Education Ministry recently sent schools some lessons related to heroes and patriotism. They include videos geared toward 12- to 15-year-old students, with references to Crimea as well as the ongoing war in Ukraine. One clip, according to the BBC, teaches kids that people who serve in the military are more likely to become national heroes.
Not all educators are on board with the suggested lessons, however. “I don’t like history being used for propaganda,” says one Moscow-area teacher. “I think this is dangerous, because there are a lot of children here who have relatives in Ukraine. This can provoke conflicts among children.” Another teacher says some of her students now consider war a type of adventure, so “I explained there’s nothing good in war.”
