Who said it would be easy (ongoing)

“It’s still not good enough, ” “You won’t succeed, ” “I won’t waste my time on you.” These are phrases children often hear during lessons. From the teacher—a figure of authority, a role model, a critic in the eyes of the students, but in reality—just a regular person. Like many others, I heard these words in music school. Teachers often become a source of pressure and manipulation for children who are directly dependent on them.

My project sheds light on a painful and often hidden issue of abuse within the Russian education system. The vulnerability of a child within the rigid hierarchy with a teacher makes it easy to use this relationship for control. Authoritarian methods of education create and reinforce school trauma, which is passed down from generation to generation.

In the legacy of the Soviet education system, harsh practices in dealing with children still persist. Violence is the norm, and its consequences affect not only the students but also the teachers, who are themselves under pressure to meet demands and performance targets. Teachers, being victims of the system themselves, take on the role of aggressors, passing their trauma onto their students. Violence is often justified with, “I meant well, otherwise, the result cannot be achieved.” This process is perpetuated by the authoritarian regime, which, by governing through violence, obstructs access to the truth and perpetuates the cycle of trauma and aggression.

The project not only documents this reality but also raises the important issue of the need for educational reform. Harsh methods and the disregard for the consequences of violence sustain this vicious cycle. I am convinced that in order to break it, an open discussion about violence in schools must begin. It is important to recognize that the aggressor is often a victim as well. Violence begets violence, and only profound systemic changes, aimed at understanding and addressing these traumas, can lead to the creation of a safe and democratic educational environment.