Mother of a Ukrainian in Finland on the school scandal: Tolerance crosses the line.

According to inkorr.com: Iryna Horkun-Silen, the mother of 11-year-old Ukrainian Nikole, who was forced to perform a Russian song in a Finnish school, shared her thoughts on the reaction of the local education system and part of society. She noted that in Finland, people have not yet realized the full seriousness of Russian influence. According to her, Finnish tolerance can sometimes be detrimental, as the country perceives Russia only as a 'neighbor,' not realizing the danger it poses.

“I was surprised by the reaction - both from the school and part of Finnish society. It seemed that people simply do not want to see the problem. Finns are very tolerant, but sometimes this crosses the line. They forget that Russia is not just a 'neighbor,' but a country that poses a threat. I hope that such blind tolerance towards Russia will disappear.”

Horkun-Silen calls for a change in the approach to teaching Russian culture in Finnish schools. She emphasizes that this should be a conscious choice, not just a simple decision from 'the past.' If Russian works remain in the curriculum, they need to be accompanied by explanations of why they are included in the educational process, taking into account the emotions of Ukrainian children. It is important to remember that in the past, Russia waged war against Finland, particularly during the Winter War of 1939-1940.

“Such 'tolerance' only pushes us towards silence about the war.”

The school principal, Ellinor Hellman, responded to the criticism, claiming that their educational institution accepts all students and adheres to the curriculum. She stated that students have the opportunity to familiarize themselves with various forms of cultural self-expression in music classes, and everything is chosen with educational goals in mind. Teachers are encouraged to respond to students' questions attentively and objectively.

The public discussion highlights the importance of discussing the role of Russian culture in Finnish school education. The choice of literature and musical works has a significant impact on shaping students' worldview, so this issue should be approached with great care. Society continues to seek a way to find a balance between cultural diversity and recognition of the potential threat from Russian influence.