"Only two people from the class did not join the Pioneers". Parents - on propaganda in schools
The strictest prohibition in Belarusian schools is on white sneakers. The BRSM entices with additional points for university admission. And refusing to be a Pioneer is not as difficult as refusing school meals.
Illustrative photo.
"Nasha Niva" spoke with parents about the situation in Belarusian schools. About how children are pressured and what they try to instill in their minds, whether it's possible not to attend patriotic events, what Orthodox priests do in classrooms, and how families cope with propaganda and numerous prohibitions - in our material.
Relatives of schoolchildren from Minsk and regional centers note that after 2020, the education system has become more ideologized. Special "patriotic" events are held everywhere: lectures, excursions, concerts, rallies on the occasion of national holidays. In addition, military-patriotic classes or clubs now operate in every school.
"They gather a full hall - and talk about the dangers of mass events"
Every week, schools hold mandatory information hours. One can only leave them for a valid reason, just like a lesson. Policemen, officials, employees of state enterprises, and Orthodox priests regularly attend such classes. Moreover, it is impossible to refuse meetings with priests, even if the family is of a different faith or non-religious.
"Neither topics nor guests are discussed with us. The school believes it has monopolized these things," complains Alena, mother of a seventh-grader (names changed for security reasons hereafter - NN).
Viktor's younger brother is in the 9th grade. The interlocutor is surprised that during information hours, students are constantly reminded of liability under Article 342 - for participation in protests. According to him, the children even laugh at this, because such lectures usually gather a full assembly hall, and they talk about the dangers of mass events.
"Sometimes there can be discussions on other topics, for example, about drugs. When I was a teenager, we were also told about this. But now everything ends with Article 342. That is, they link protests to everything, even if it sounds strange," explains Viktor.
War is mentioned almost every day
"Nasha Niva"'s interlocutors say that recently schools have been maximally focused on the topic of the Great Patriotic War. It is discussed during class hours, and films are shown, including about September 17, 1939. In some schools, children are taken to "Immortal Regiment" events.
"Neither topics nor guests are discussed with us. The school believes it has monopolized these things," complains Alena, mother of a seventh-grader (names changed for security reasons hereafter - NN).
Viktor's younger brother is in the 9th grade. The interlocutor is surprised that during information hours, students are constantly reminded of liability under Article 342 - for participation in protests. According to him, the children even laugh at this, because such lectures usually gather a full assembly hall, and they talk about the dangers of mass events.
"Sometimes there can be discussions on other topics, for example, about drugs. When I was a teenager, we were also told about this. But now everything ends with Article 342. That is, they link protests to everything, even if it sounds strange," explains Viktor.
War is mentioned almost every day
"Nasha Niva"'s interlocutors say that recently schools have been maximally focused on the topic of the Great Patriotic War. It is discussed during class hours, and films are shown, including about September 17, 1939. In some schools, children are taken to "Immortal Regiment" events.