Russian classroom propaganda glorifies dying for your country, students say

Earlier this year, several schools in Novosibirsk, a city of 1.6 million in southern Siberia, received a textbook on patriotism from the authorities. According to students, with whom DW spoke to on condition of anonymity, in the book the authors urge children to prepare themselves to die for their country. Furthermore, they equate homosexuality with pedophilia and Disney cartoons with pornography, and give instructions on how women should use their "charms." Europeans are described as "thieves, murderers and liars."

The textbook, which provides "materials for spiritual, moral, and patriotic upbringing" is supposed to be used as part of "patriotism lessons" that have been on the curriculum since 2022 . Though it is not included on the national list of core curriculum books, the content reflects the Kremlin's intentions to spread propaganda in educational institutions.

One of the main topics of the book is the war in Ukraine and the idea that dying for one's country is a blessing is repeated several times: "Love always involves sacrifice," writes one of the authors. "The sacrifice of a defender of the homeland is their life."

Elsewhere in the book, the authors make constant claims that Russia is better than Western countries. They also say that children are "mentally crippled" because of "computer games, Hollywood action films, pornography and Disney cartoons."

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