--- Wojtek Sokolowski <sokol at jhu.edu> wrote:
>
> It is important to add, however, that in addition to
> their
> patriotic/indoctrination function, these
> organizations did perform very
> important socialization functions, ranging from
> teaching personal hygiene (I
> recall a song whose lyrics proclaimed that a good
> pioneer always carries a
> towel, soap and a toothbrush in his rucksack), to
> child care, recreational
> and extra-curricular activities (since as a rule
> both parents worked), to
> social integration of kids coming from different
> family backgrounds, to
> ideals of volunteering and public service, and to
> the preparation for
> acquiring occupational skills.
>
I agree.
The Pioneers organization still exists as part of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation, but I don't think there are more than 200,000 or so kids in it. I don't think must kids think it's terribly hip. ;)
Nu, zayats, pogodi!
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