Russian minister proposes compulsory farm labour for schoolchildren

Kids today don’t know they’re born. That seemed to be the subtext of a recent proposal by Russian Education and Science Minister Olga Vasilieva for the reinstatement of compulsory farm labour for schoolchildren.

Ms Vasilieva believes that pupils would benefit from being placed into Soviet-style “agricultural brigades” for farm work, just “like we always used to do”. Beyond the provision of free labour, the work would support a greater aim: shaping “not young consumers, but creators”. She added that pupils should also be responsible for cleaning their schools.

Soviet education placed emphasis on labour and collectivism, and sending school children and students to take part in agricultural work remained commonplace until the late 1980s.

Would you sign your children up?

Source: The Moscow Times