As part of its greater goal of fully absorbing Ukrainians into Mother Russia, Moscow is offering huge sums to its teachers to go to Russian-occupied territories of Ukraine to give students there a “corrected,” Russia-centric education.
In some cases, the pay is five to six times the average monthly salary of teachers, especially ones in rural areas of Russia; something that may create resentment in Russia.
One chat group message from June 17 provided to The Washington Post noted that transportation to and from the southern Kherson regions of Ukraine were free, and “accommodations and food” were “under discussion.”
Another message added: “Dear teachers, is there anyone else who wishes to help colleagues? It is safe in those regions. Please respond fast.”
As the Post reports:
Moscow is carrying out an intense Russification effort in occupied regions, one that appears designed to quash Ukrainians’ sense of history, nationhood and even their language. Targeting what children learn is a key strategy. Ukrainian education “must be corrected,” Russian Education Minister Sergei Kravtsov said at a June 28 meeting of President Vladimir Putin’s United Russia party.
But as the Post adds:
[the] Kremlin’s effort extends far beyond the schools. It already has blocked Ukraine’s cellphone network and media in areas it controls, while broadcasting Russian state propaganda about its “denazification” of the country. It has torn down Ukrainian city signs and replaced them with Russian ones. And under a Putin decree, Moscow is trying to get Ukrainians throughout the country to sign up for Russian passports.
Referendums are planned for September on occupied areas “joining” Russia. The Kremlin also has foreshadowed possible votes on making Russian the official language of Ukraine.
Several weeks ago, Russia set up civil registry offices in Kherson and Melitopol, where Ukrainians can register newborn babies “in accordance with Russian law,” get Russian documents and apply for welfare payments.
Putin’s Russification effort in Ukraine comes at the same time that he is transforming Russia’s education system to promote a more ‘patriotic’ citizenry. The Post notes that:
This push comes amid a major overhaul of Russia’s own education system, prompted largely by top security officials calling on schools to build a new “patriotic” generation. History textbooks are being revised to reflect Putin’s view that Ukraine was never a real state.
Most concerning is how all these efforts harken back to the darkest days of the Soviet Union. As the Post explains:
Moscow’s Russification of areas it occupies in Ukraine bears disturbing echoes of the Soviet era under Joseph Stalin when millions of people from annexed or subjugated regions were deported to Siberia and Central Asia. Russian workers were sent in to settle and assimilate many areas. The Baltic states and Central Asian nations such as Kazakhstan still have significant numbers of ethnic Russians, often a source of tension amid Moscow’s frequent vows to “protect” all Russian speakers.
ALD
The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the positions of American Liberty News.
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Paul Crespo is the Managing Editor of American Liberty Defense News. As a Marine Corps officer, he led Marines, served aboard ships in the Pacific and jumped from helicopters and airplanes. He was also a military attaché with the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) at U.S. embassies worldwide. He later ran for state and federal office, taught political science, wrote for the editorial board of a major newspaper and had his own radio show. A graduate of Georgetown, London and Cambridge universities, he brings decades of experience and insight to the issues that most threaten our American liberty – at home and from abroad. To read more go to: paulcrespo.com.
For Indoc drills
Yeah welll…somebody over here is infiltrating our schools with lefties who are programming our kids with propaganda that would erase gender differences and instill massive confusion and will ultimately undermine our kids’ faith and confidence in education; because they will not ALL be so blind or stupid to swallow the narrative hook, line and sinker.
This is just one more example of why Ukraine should be provided with everything and anything it takes to drive Russia out of their country and rescue their citizens that are being held by Putin’s thugs.
Of course my first thought after this headline was, that’s the same thing they have been doing here for 50 years. Indoctrinate the teachers then the children and no one will remember what is wrong with communism at all. What is wrong with it of course is exactly that, they are indoctrinated. It’s not their thoughts, wishes, or freedom. It is a totalitarian government forcing and brainwashing them into obedience and serfdom. Apparently the same thing democrats want to do here.