Russians on Social Networks Denounce Moscow Introduction of Patriotic Courses for Pre-Schoolers as ‘Brainwashing’

Paul Goble

            Staunton, Aug. 19 – Beginning with this academic year, pre-schools in 22 federal subjects will introduce patriotic courses for three-to-seven year olds, a program Moscow clearly believes will boost patriotic feelings but one that some Russians have taken to social media to denounce as a form of “brainwashing,” the NeMoskva portal says.

            According to the Russian education ministry, this is a test and, if successful, the program will be expanded to encompass the entire country in the future (nemoskva.net/2025/08/19/chem-ranshe-mozgi-promoesh-tem-krepche-rodinu-lyubit-budut-razgovory-o-vazhnom-nachnut-provodit-teper-i-dlya-detsadovczev/).

            In these units, the preschoolers will be told about “the importance of family and friendship,” “the development of moral qualities,” the history of Russia and what constitutes “correct” love for the motherland.  Clearly, the Russian government believes that the earlier it can get its hands on young people, the better.

            But many Russians are not convinced, and some are even angry about the presumption of the authorities to try to deliver such ideological messages to young people long before they can read or write, at least according to the negative comments about the program that NeMoskva has gathered.