AK-47 in Russian kindergarten: Fostering love for country or planned arms literacy lesson?
An out-of-the-ordinary lesson was taught to a group of children in St.-Petersburg’s kindergarten No 69: a real lecture on the Russian army’s combat equipment was delivered by a Russian army major, father of one of the pupils. According to local officials, the event was promotive of patriotism education.
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On February, 23 photos of children holding arms appeared on the Internet. A camouflaged man with major shoulder loops demonstrated mock-ups of rifles, submachine guns, grenade-launchers; boys and girls were posing for photos.
According to fontanka.ru, the man posted the photos on his social media account himself; his name is Vitaly, he is a major and member of military and patriotic organisation ‘Red Star’. His son attends kindergarten No 69.
Judging by Vitaly’s photo report, 7 boys, 7 girls and a nursery teacher were present at February, 19 event timed to coincide with Russia’s Day of Defender.
The story has sparkled a massive outcry on the web: some people blast Vitaly saying children are too young to be drawn into the military world while their opponents praise the major for his initiative and criticize ‘journos’ for making connections with the Ukrainian conflict and calling the event ‘Day of Russian Militiaman’.
Margarita Ivanova, director of kindergarten No 69, refused to comment on the situation. The woman is reported to have given her OK to holding the lecture in the military style.
Meanwhile, Russia’s Defense Ministry said the event was unsanctioned. The military officials do not intend to support such initiatives in the future, fontanka ru.reports. As far as major Vitaly is concerned, he is likely to be called on the carpet.
