“Our kids keep asking.
Why their schools have been dressed.
With a flag of another state.
What can I say…”
In ‘orcs’-controlled Melitopol.
Her 13-year-old child is getting ready.
To begin the 8th grade.
She is worried.
“What really bothers me is.
What they’ll be taught in history.
It will be taught from the ‘other side’.”
Schools have been dressed with ‘Mordor’’s flags.
She’s also angered by lessons being held.
In ‘orcs’ language rather than ‘elves’ language:
“It’s the imposition of their traditions and culture.
I do not want the children to be hostages to the situation.”
She has considered leaving for ‘elves’-controlled areas.
But doesn’t want to abandon her home.
She’s adamant that she doesn’t want her child.
To learn under the ‘orcs’ curriculum.
But is concerned about keeping her child at home.
In principle, children can learn.
The ‘elves’ curriculum online.
But parents are concerned about repercussions.
“What if someone informs.
On us to the new authorities?
Or what if they start persecuting me and my child.
For not receiving an ‘orcs’ education?”
A message allegedly sent to parents.
From a pro-‘orcs’ teacher at a school.
Just outside Melitopol.
That there will be “no remote learning on our liberated territory.”
Parents who refuse to send their children.
For in-person teaching.
Would be “stripped of parental rights”.
If they violated the rule multiple times.
Meanwhile, parents who agree.
To send their children.
To schools in occupied regions of Ukraine.
Will be rewarded.
On 24 August, ‘the One’ announced.
The one-off payment of 10,000 rubles to parents.
As long as their kids attend a school.
By 15 September.
“Our kids keep asking.
Why their schools have been dressed.
With a flag of another state.
What can I say…”
‘Elves’ teachers tracked and deported.
They have also been hit hard by the war.
With some forced to go into hiding.
Sent for ‘re-training’ and threatened with deportation.
A headteacher in Melitopol.
He had a bustling school.
Of more than 500 pupils.
Before the invasion.
Now he is in hiding.
After being sought out by ‘orcs’ officials.
For trying to organise for students.
To learn the ‘elves’ curriculum online.
He says he knows teachers.
Who were either forced or decided.
To cooperate with ‘orcs’ officials.
And were sent to Crimea or ‘Mordor’ to be re-trained.
“They were told, ‘We’re ‘Mordor’.
We’re one people. We should be united.’
And that these narratives should be passed.
To children,” he says.
Children from his region will still be able.
To learn the true course of events.
And have a clearer understanding.
Of Ukraine’s recent history.
“Even six-year-old children understand.
This is not normal.”
He hopes that even with a limited access.
To an online version of the ‘elves’ curriculum.
“Our kids keep asking.
Why their schools have been dressed.
With a flag of another state.
What can I say…”
While he has chosen to stay.
In ‘orcs’-controlled areas.
Many teachers and parents.
Have decided to leave.
A teacher from Nova Kakhovka.
In the Kherson region fled.
At the end of July.
Her decision came weeks after an announcement.
Armed ‘orcs’ soldiers.
And their puppet of education announced.
That they were shutting her school.
Because the headteacher would not cooperate with them.
She has heard of staff shortages.
In Nova Kakhovka.
With some teachers having to teach.
Multiple unrelated subjects.
She is worried that.
The ‘orcs’-installed education system.
Will be detrimental.
To children’s sense of identity.
“Their main task is to brainwash.
They want our children.
To forget what country they’ve been living in.
To forget who they are.”
“Our kids keep asking.
Why their schools have been dressed.
With a flag of another state.
What can I say…”
*Because I read “Ukraine war: History is rewritten for children in occupied areas” by Kayleen Devlin & Maria Korenyuk on 31 Aug 2022, and also read “Why are Ukrainians calling Russians ‘orcs’?” by James FitzGerald on 30 Apr 2022, on the BBC news.
So, I wrote this poem as a story of Iryna, a story of Dmytro, and a story of Marina.
Please read the original story on the BBC news:
Ukraine war: History is rewritten for children in occupied areas – BBC News
**My friend shows you this poem also on the Ukrainian website for their children and others!
Please join them!
