Between 2014 and 2018, the list of books that can be bought by Russian schools was reduced by 71%, essentially to the benefit of a publishing house owned by a relative of the Kremlin leader.
Anger seized Igor Lipsits, Professor Emeritus at the School of Higher Economic Studies in Moscow. The textbook he has written for grade 1 and grade 12 students has just been removed from the federal list of school books, the only ones that schools can purchase, on the grounds that the questions raised and the examples provided in the book „Do not help to give the love of the country“ . For example: the evocation of the queues in the former USSR „does not create pride for the motherland“ . A heresy in the eyes of the censors.
There are others. For example, on page 256, the mention of a study in Uganda on the HIV epidemic „does not reflect age, and is harmful to children’s mental health and development“ . And what about the lack of reference to the contemporary economic „breakthrough“ promised by power? The lack of interest in the development of the „made in Russia“ that took over the imported products, placed under embargo in retaliation for sanctions? The experts of the Academy of Education which depends on the ministry and deals with pedagogy, have decided. Removed from the list.
After such a cleaver, the publishing house Vita-Presse tried to save the manual by asking the author to make some changes: establish a „more correct presentation of the current economic situation“ ; „Exclude a certain number of topics from discussions that could lead to a negative and non-constructive debate …“ ; add information on „economic breakthrough“ and argue „import substitution is one of the modern economic directions that can inspire students with pride“ .
Winnie the Pooh blacklisted
Alas, Igor Lipsits told the Kommersant newspaper on February 6, „I will not succeed, I have forgotten how to write such things for twenty-five years and I do not want to reduce my skills to verbiage “ . Angry, therefore, he says he has no intention of adding „joyful words on the momentum of the economy and the patriotic impulse for import substitution“ . Too bad for the canons of patriotism erected as a virtuous mother by the Kremlin.
Was the Lipsits textbook overly zealous? He is far from alone, says Boris Grozovski, an economic columnist and education specialist, who talks about „a gradual cleansing of the last areas of freedom in schools“ and keeps a list of other nailed books in reserve. to the pillory. „The assault,“ he says, „began in the mid-2000s, and it became increasingly clear that the state would force teachers to expose history in a way that is supportive of the current regime. „
