February 24, 2022, Vladimir Putin declared war on Ukraine. As early as January, embassies had begun recommending their citizens leave Ukraine immediately. Fortunately, many did leave, motivated by the fact Russian troops were amassing on the border. International Educators in Russia, however, stayed put for the most part, some by choice and others as a result of the insistence of their schools.
Flights from Russia to the US, EU and Canada are now non-existent as Russian commercial aircraft and private jets are completely banned from the airspace of these countries. With growing tension between the US and Moscow, as well as Moscow and US allies, it’s anyone’s guess what Putin, an ex-KGB agent who threatens nuclear war, will do next. Detention in a Russian prison may not be off the table.
Beyond personal safety, ISR believes the conscientious thing to do would be to leave Russia. In other words, vote with your feet. Continuing to live and teach in a country waging unprovoked war, murder, and geopolitical piracy on the civilians of its autonomous neighbor could be construed as a silent vote of support.
ISR asks:
If YOU were teaching in Ukraine, did you evacuate before February 24th? If YOU stayed past that date, was it your own choice or your school’s requirement? Please tell us about YOUR evacuation experience.
If YOU were in Russia on or after February 24th, have you since departed? Please Share that experience. If you are still in Russia, why are YOU still there?
Please scroll down to participate in this ISR Discussion
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That’s a whole lot of words to say “I’m too cowardly to stand up for what’s right.” You’re boring, narrow-minded and repetitive and your justifications for staying silent in the face of acknowledged racism are pathetic, not to mention transparent. Racism and evil persist in this world primarily because of people like you. Don’t expect me to reply to you again. You’re not worth another moment of my time.
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At this point there’s nothing else to say except that I hope you don’t deal with children on a daily basis as unfortunate are the students that have to serve under your rule and put up with your self righteousness!
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ISR – I am very disappointed with this article. For a forum that is supposed to be closely connected to the issues facing international teachers it is deeply ignorant. There are many people from around the world who are still living and working in Russia due to a wide variety of reasons – including having started a family there, or a charity, a business partnership etc. There are diplomatic and consulate services running for different nationalities (and their children often attend international schools). This article only aims to shame and isolate educators.
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You oversimplify the situation. I don’t see that ISR is attempting to shame teachers. They are helping teachers, although you are quick to shout “ignorant.” I suppose trying to cast a shadow over anything you don’t agree with is one way to begin a disagreement. But that method only show your ignorance. I’m thinking you feel guilty, and the article is a bit like putting salt in a wound. Are you into book banning? Putin is a Hitler, killing innocents and oppressing his own people. Good luck to you. I doubt you are a teacher.
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As I read through the comments above all I could think of was these folks are missing the real point of the article, personal safety. I spent over thirty years teaching overseas and some of my postings were in pretty dangerous places including Libya and Venezuela. Those Americans who choose to stay in Russia are putting themselves and their families at risk. There are many who will stay in spite of the risk and they all have valid rationalizations for making that choice. Politics aside, take care of yourselves and stay safe.
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Western governments have already begun to consider shutting SWIFT access from Russia, so, if you know what’s good for you, you’ll hurry and get ALL of your money out via SWIFT!
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The SWIFT sanctions went into effect back in March. It is not just Tasty Period replaces McDonalds. (Seriously, Tasty Period is the bootleg name:))
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Dear ISR.
You charge money to offer a service that aids teachers to find their dream job in the following countries, all of which have shocking human rights abuses as the norm either domestically, internationally or both.
Belarus, Cambodia, China, Congo (x2), Cuba, Egypt, Eritrea, Guatemala, Haiti, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Laos, Latvia, Mexico, Morocco, F***KING MYANMAR, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Philipines, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Sudan, Syria, Turkey, Turkmenistan, The United States, Venezuela, Yemen, Zimbabwe.
Your ability to stand on a high horse and preach that teachers who choose to stay in Russia is somewhat limited. I suggest you consider the log in your own eye, before preaching about the speck in your customers’ eyes.
Vladamir Illych Ulyanov
Champion of the oppressed (just like you, apparently)
Moscow, Russia
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Comrade Vlad, you are a great rationalizer. There is a tremendous difference between mistreating people and killing them on mass. I’m sure you would agree. I suspect you are one of those “my country, right or wrong types.”
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Most of the international schools actively recruiting ALL THE TIME are countries with questionable politics. Perhaps the recruiters should be thinking about this rather than selling out and recruiting for schools there and ones they SHOULD know are horrible workplaces.
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I am teaching in Russia and training teachers. If I agreed with your comments I would have left the USA during the Korean Conflict, the Vietnam Conflict, the invasion of Afghanistan, etc. ettc. My heart bleeds for all the people of Ukraine (the innocent people and even those who previously attacked citizens because they were Russian). I have friends in Ukraine. But, my heart also bleeds for the thousands of Russian mothers who have lost their sons, the children who have lost their fathers… and now for the men in pain becuse they are fleeing the country (their wives, children, parents, home) so they don’t have to go to Ukraine and kill their grandparents. This war reminds me of our USA Civil War because brothers are fighting brothers.
As I read many of the comments, I read so much prejudice based upon propoganda. Please, you are educators, get the facts before you open your mouth.
I am an educator. I am not a political leader nor a politician. I care about my students, I care about the teachers that I am training, I care about my friends that I meet in the local restaurants and bars. I am NOT making a statement against RUSSIA. I do not agree with anything that has to do with war but that doesn’t mean that I have built a negative prejudice toward the people of Russia.
Remember, when you point your finger at someone, three fingers are pointing back at you.
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Well said! After much study on my own, I have come to the conclusion that the American government is largely responsible for the current war in Ukraine. Our own government has fomented color revolutions all over the globe, including in Ukraine. Do your own research, think for yourself. Russia is not our enemy.
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Golly, what morally perfect countries are the rest of you working in? Please let me know so I can run and apply for a job and be as squeaky clean as ISR thinks we should all be.
Anyone who has taught overseas knows that there are a myriad of reasons that bring and keep people in a country and that it very rarely has anything to do with local politics. One big one is having a host country spouse or partner. What do you recommend those people do? Abandon their Russian spouse at a time when it’s almost impossible for Russians to leave the country and no one anywhere wants to give them a visa, just so you can prove how morally superior you are?
I was in Russia on February 24 and have since left and not returned. Though the easier thing would have been for the school to shut down completely when the majority of its faculty were evacuated from the country, (and trust me, there were many times when I wished they would do just that!) they instead fought tooth and nail to stay open so that we could continue to provide an education to our students, and continued employment to hundreds of Russian citizens who would have few to no other prospects if the school were to close. I’m proud that the school I worked for is still operating and I know it is a haven in the midst of the chaos for those who go there every day.
Let’s avoid judgment and oversimplification of situations you know nothing about. Those overseas hired teachers still in Russia deserve our respect and support.
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What they deserve is our help to get them out of there. Many, if not most, international schools are nowadays owned and managed by kleptocrats who are hand in glove with murderous, authoritarian regimes. The one I worked for in Egypt certainly was. They largely educate the children of said kleptocrats–individual who immiserate their fellow citizens. I would be very surprised if most of the “stakeholders” in schools in Petersburg and Moscow weren’t allies of Putin’s murderous regime.
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We all draw a line beyond which the politics of a country rules it out as a place to live and work. Few, I suspect, would work in North Korea. For me, the ‘banned’ list includes Russia, sure, but also Saudi Arabia, China, the UAE (Dubai), Qatar and others. If Trump were still in the White House, I’d include the USA on that list. Call me picky.
I’m currently in Thailand and not so long ago lived in Indonesia. Both have less than perfect records on human rights as does my home country the UK (see the Rwanda policy). Here I am nevertheless… I made a judgment call.
We all have to make our way in a world that has a long way to go on equality and human rights, energy policy, wealth distribution and so on. And yet we all have to live somewhere, work somewhere and, hopefully do so as best we can in accordance with our values.
I think ISR was unwise to post this as a topic as it was bound to be divisive, and right now the international teaching community has an important role to play in educating the next generation (yes, including the children of elites) and I hope making things a little better. Critical thinking skills are the No. 1 enemy of populism and corporate greed. I would like to see future citizens better equipped to shape their world and who else is going to do that but teachers?
I say work wherever you feel comfortable, but be mindful of your values, be authentic and be kind.
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So well said!
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Ignorant comments— some teachers stayed and most overseas hires were told to leave by their governments. Each professional has to make difficult decision based on very little concrete information. Staying to teach does not equal supporting the current political leaders. ISR seems to be making professional decisions political.
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Yes, let’s blame green energy policies for the fact that a mad dictator decided to start a war. Makes perfect sense. You must have a compelling justification for the violent suppression of gay rights in Russia as well. As for the boot type, let’s go with Nutukas. I don’t buy Russian.
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You don’t read very well. I didn’t say that green energy policies were the reason Russia invaded Ukraine, I said that green energy policies will be the cause of the collapse of the German economy and, as a cascading effect, most of the rest of the Western World’s economies.
What makes you think that he’s a “mad dictator”? Is he any more mad than Stalin? He’s actually about the most benign leader in Russia since Nicholas was murdered by the communists.
You really don’t read much either. Gays aren’t bothered in Russia that much as long as they keep things to themselves. Flamboyant homosexuality isn’t tolerated in Russia in the same way as flamboyant ANY sexuality isn’t tolerated. You also can’t discuss a homosexual lifestyle with children, a sensible policy considering that you shouldn’t be talking about sex with children anyway.
Interesting that you won’t buy Russian. To insist that 144 million people are a monolithic group. Makes perfect sense, to a progressive.
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Your point of view on everything from “white lives matter” to gay rights to the Russian invasion of a sovereign nation is only too obviously colored by your deplorable right wing ideology. The only skill that should be questioned as a result of this exchange is your skill in the classroom. I have nothing but sympathy for any students stuck with you. Luckily I’m not stuck, and will not be wasting further time with a Putin apologist. Enjoy the Nutukas.
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Also, you do buy Russian if you buy anything. Before the war there were 8000 cargo ship movements in the USA from Russia. Today there are 3600. They bring in lumber, nickel and zinc.
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I don’t buy Russian neither American. Maybe this is just the start of the end of Anglo-Saxon culture prevalence.
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“your selective memory of history is designed to serve your agenda and not an accurate representation of anything even remotely factual”
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I knew your response to having historical facts presented to you would be nonexistent or lame. Thanks for proving me right. As cowardly anonymous internet trolling goes, this is a low water mark.
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I figured you’d reflect on it for a while but I was wrong (that’s recognition). It’s sad to see you reply to people’s comments in such a direct personal way, almost as an attack… It suggests a high level of individualism and a somewhat narrow mindedness (the word here is suggests so don’t take it personally).
If people can’t see anything wrong when an actor, pretending to be an educator (a delusional one), pretends to become a president, and actually becomes a president, there’s not much left to talk about. I would say it rimes with puppet government if it wasn’t exactly what it was.
I often wonder what would happen if Russia decided to put some massive weaponry in some place like, say Cuba (oh wait, did this happen or am I dreaming?)!
I live in a country where democracy has been shredded to pieces thanks to a much similar “anti corruption” propaganda machine than the one used in Ukraine, only to serve some western country’s geopolitical agenda (I would bet people know which country I’m talking about).
That being said, I really feel for the Ukrainian people, being caught between a petty dispute of hegemony between 2 global super powers. No one has more to lose but themselves, and they will be paying for it for decades to come, as I’m sure the U$15 billion in military “aid” so far will be paid (with interests!).
I do agree with you on the points you make on your reply to that racist fool’s message and I hope you somehow find the means to use that same non mainstream view of historical facts when considering what your country does not only to its own minorities, but to other countries as well with its “big stick” policy.
And I do wish you all the best!
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I’m WELL aware of the evil my country has done both within and outside of its own borders. If any of my comments have made you sad, please invest in Kleenex.
Funny how someone can point out a “racist fool” yet remain silent in response to the disgusting rhetoric that racist fool spouts. Only one other person had the courage to reply to that deplorable and call out his remarks. You acknowledge that the comments were racist and that you agree with my response, yet you were too cowardly to craft your own response and remained silent instead, which is how racists like him manage to flourish in the first place. No, instead you decided to reply to me, the person you claim to agree with. I’ve spent my entire life so far standing up to people like that while people like YOU remain silent on the sidelines. I’ve been watching the comments to see how many others would speak up, confident that I wouldn’t be the sole voice of opposition to such vile, blatantly racist remarks. Instead I see just ONE person who has been willing to say something, and you accusing me of “almost” attacking people. Your process of deciding who you reply to and who you scroll past in silence bears re-examination. I would love to rebut by saying I hope YOU find the means to actually stand up to people you consider to be racist and/or foolish in your real life, since you have failed to do it here, along with everyone else who stayed silent. But there’s no point. You are who you are. And so are they. Some things never change.
Thanks for your good wishes.
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I’m not sure why ISR has decided to virtue signal on this particular topic. This is not a black and white situation. Russia had very specific and definite reasons for invading Ukraine that the Western press seems to want to dismiss but this conflict has been coming for well over a decade now and it’s primarily the fault of the US and Western Europe for ignoring Russia’s legitimate security concerns regarding NATO and European encroachment in Russia’s sphere of influence.
Over the past 30 years we’ve seen NATO expand ever eastward, something that was promised not to happen after the fall of the Soviet Union. NATO said that no states east of Germany would be added to NATO. Then the Baltic Republics were welcomed in. After that Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic and Slovenia, Romania and Bulgaria. Basically everything east of Germany except some parts of what used to be Yugoslavia. Russia has had to sit back and watch NATO (an organization that should have been dissolved when the Soviet Union collapsed) expand ever eastward. Now we have Ukraine, who should have remained neutral, an historically Russian territory since it was stripped from the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth five hundred years ago, being courted by NATO for membership. This was a bridge too far and Russia telegraphed their position long before Crimea was annexed in 2014. I have seen, with my own eyes, American missile cruisers in Sevastopol Bay with American sailors on shore leave in Sevastopol. No wonder Russia annexed Crimea!
Russia was backed into a corner in this conflict. They made it plain that the west should stay out of Ukraine. They made it more clear in 2014 that Crimea and Ukraine were deeply within Russia’s sphere of influence and they would be willing to go to war to secure their interests in Ukraine. They weren’t kidding. Now Russia will dismember Ukraine and what will be left will be a toothless puppet, if Russia doesn’t annex the whole thing. Russia cannot lose this war. When the ground freezes again Russia will bring up 300,000 fresh regulars (the conscripts they just drafted will be used to release regular troops in other regions of Russia) and they will swamp the Ukrainian army. Ukraine has already lost over 100,000 dead in this war. The Ukrainian army is bled white. This war will be over by March and what’s left of Ukraine won’t be worth much.
I would be a much happier camper if ISR would stick to their lane and not virtue signal. War is bad. No one likes or wants war but Russia was pushed past their limit by the Western alliance and tried to do everything for the past 20 years to make it clear what their requirements were or there would be consequences. Please, just remain non-political. This is a much more complex issue than the Western press makes it out to be. Just stick to letting us know which schools aren’t good.
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Yum, how’s that Russian boot taste, buddy? 🤮
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Ukraine voted to be independent during the dissolution of the Soviet Union. Moreover, the invasion of Ukraine is not about NATO but to expand Putin’s fantasy of the Russian Empire. Putin wants to resurrect Alexander III Tsar leadership by Russifying areas around Russia.
1881-Bans teaching in public schools and making church sermons in Ukrainian
1884- Bans all Ukrainian theatre performances performed in Ukraine
1888-Bans using Ukrainian in all official institutions and baptizing people with Ukrainian names
1892-Bans translating books from Russian to Ukrainian
1895-Bans publishing children’s books in Ukrainian
Moreover, let us not forget the ethnic cleansing. More and more conscripts come from Yakult and Tatarstan, with just a tiny minority from the Slavic areas. It looks to be genocide.
Russia also threatened to take back Kazakhstan, too. But what about the colonizers in the West? Invading countries and forcing others to embrace the Russian culture is not imperializing?
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Spot on, Nevsky!
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By definition–at least by the IB’s so-called “student profile” as well as the critical thinking inculcated by the “Theory of Knowledge”–no school in a totalitarian dictatorship can possibly be a “good school.”
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Then how come the number 2 school for IB results last year is in Russia?
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I have a number of Russian students, and getting out is not easy for them, so it’s almost certainly not easy for non-Russians living and working there, either. For one thing, teachers there are likely to have local bank accounts to receive their salary deposits. The sanctions have made it nearly impossible for anyone in Russia to get money out of Russia, or for them to receive money in other currencies. On a purely financial level, it might not have been possible for teachers there to get out. It takes time to get an international move organized, and in that time, the sanctions tightened and it got even more difficult to leave. A lot of teachers there are likely very against what the government is doing, but can’t get out now because flights are insanely expensive (4800 USD to Istanbul from Moscow last week), there are huge lines to get out by car (30 km/10 mile long lines at some border crossings that take more than three days of waiting) and few places willing to accept people coming from Russia. A lot of teachers probably told themselves at the beginning of the conflict that it would be over soon and that their best bet was to hunker down and wait it out. After all, the alternative meant trying to find a new job and a new place to live, which are not easy to do at the moment because of Covid and everything else going on in the world.
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Ageee but “ international “ schools are still advertising for positions and my former TA told me that she waiting for a teacher from the UK to arrive. Do basically, teachers are applying and accepting jobs, amid the conflict.
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That’s a bummer to hear. You’d like to think people know better than to enter under these circumstances, but I guess if you really need a job and/or support the Russian side of the conflict, it’s not an issue.
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Everything you say isn’t easy for non-Russians in Russia is actually easy.
Pegasus air via Turkey can fly you out of Moscow for a reasonable price – one way to London is about 1300 GBP. There are also cheap ways – get the train to Kaliningrad, jump off at the Lithuanian border then get a train to Vilnius, then fly Baltic air to anywhere in Europe.
Getting money out of Russia as a foreigner is easy. Your school will tell you which banks are still on SWIFT. I won’t tell you which in case the zealots here try to ‘cancel’ them. I send money back every month, and have done without interruption all year.
The most difficult thing is shipping out any possessions you can’t put in your suitcases, as land shipping routes are closed. But if you want to leave in a hurry, then that’s not an issue.
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I am sad that my former High School, the Anglo American School of Moscow, has become a shadow of what it once was partically due to the war Russia has waged in Ukraine. I believe though that many ordinary citizens in Russia have nothing to do with the actions of Putin and his government, and therefore teaching them would not show that you agree with Putin’s actions. I personally would leave for personal safety, but I am sad that my vague hopes of returning to Moscow to teach seem to be far fetched at best.
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Agree with everything you said. It is especially sad that Anglo-American School was taken over by a local. And yes, Russians in general are apolitical which is part of the problem. I think many Russians are waking up from a long, long slumber.
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I have seen a lot of job postings for that school. I would love to experience Russia and life there, but not right now.
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I taught in Russia for many years, and loved it. With that being said, I would not be comfortable there now. First of all, many international schools are owned by locals; creating a for- profit type institution. Everything is changing there, and it is very costly to go in and out of country. There a couple of teachers I know who decided to stay in Russia. One used to wear a T- shirt “ White Lives Matter” and the other teacher I know is just another drifter. And of course, moving your salary out the country is very difficult, amid the SWIFT sanctions.
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Are you saying that white lives don’t matter? I love when racism raises it’s ugly head so openly and blatantly. What’s wrong with a “White Lives Matter” T-shirt? It’s ok to be white……
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The obvious problem with the slogan is that no one started saying it until Black people declared that our lives matter in response to the police acting as if they don’t for literal centuries. It’s not a declaration that “white lives matter,” it’s a declaration that black lives are less important than white, and it’s repeated by white supremacists (some of whom aren’t even white themselves). But you knew that. You want ISR to stay in its lane? Stay in yours and stick to kissing Putin’s rear end. That’s your strong suit. Sounds like the dude with the stupid shirt is right where he belongs.
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Where can I buy this t-shirt? I would like to order a class set for my homeroom.
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Kanye West and Candace Owens can sell you a set. Or save money by just stitching it onto the hoods of your robes for the next Klan meeting, you anonymous coward.
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I don’t have to rationalise anything. I teach here because I like it, it is in my best interest to do so, and I am able to use my profession to contribute towards fostering peace and understanding between cultures.
Pray tell, you teach the children of the elite of which country?
Nice strawman argument by the way. You even flagged that it was a strawman with the ‘by your reasoning’ signpost that shows that you don’t have the ability to respond to my actual argument, and have to invent one that I didn’t say instead. I hope you don’t run the debate club.
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It is bluntly apparent you are delusional and unable to see beyond what falls within the realm of your best interests. Keep telling yourself you are fostering peace and understanding. Let’s hope you wake up someday and stop hiding behind your misinterpretation of semantics. By your reasoning you no doubt agree with the statement, “orgies foster chastity.”
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Hello from Moscow!
I am a non-Russian who has worked in an international school here for 4 years now, it’s lovely. The staff and students are amongst the most professional and hardworking I have met in my career. The city is safe, beautiful, and wages are good.
I have a question about your article. Given that education is a human right, as defined in article 26 of the UN Declaration of Human Rights I fail to see why working as an educator is equated with participation in a conflict, as you claim: “Continuing to live and teach in a country…… could be construed as a silent vote of support.” I do note your use of the word ‘could’ to allow yourself the ability to back down from your position, if you are challenged, which I shall do now.
Once can not help but notice there is an astonishing consensus amongst the quality press that western countries should welcome Russians seeking to leave Russia, or relocate for whatever reason – including education. Bloomberg, Financial Times, Foreign Affairs, The Economist – Even Al-Jazeera have implored countries to welcome people from Russia who want to leave for work, to avoid the draft, or to go for university. International education plays a key part in facilitating that process, and the is no shortage of stories of the role played by western universities in spreading liberal ideas across the world. Imploring international educators to leave a country is not just irresponsible, but downright dangerous. The Cold War was characterised by a lack of cultural understanding between the citizens of the west and the USSR. What better way to contribute in a meaningful way to peace and security than forging cultural links between antagonist countries? If this is not the path to peace, then what is?
Please answer my questions, they are not rhetorical. I await your response with the fire in my samovar burning, ready to pour a cup of tea to drink while I read the justification of your irresponsible and dangerous proselytisation.
Kind regards
AB
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Based on your reasoning, teaching in Germany under Hitler would be helping to advance cultural awareness. You’re teaching the children of the elite, those who stand to profit off this invasion. Personally, I agree 100% with ISR. I think you’ve found a way to rationalize staying.
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It is downright dangerous to encourage anti- intellectualism. For- profit schools are nothing more than diploma mills for the elite. Not all schools in the West spread post- modernist ideas, by the way. We study philosophy, conduct the Harkness model in our class sessions, and partake in productive debates.
The world is not that binary
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What do you plan to do with your savings? Something called SWIFT sanctions? Do you know what that is? I suppose you can just volunteer, then. Maybe help Ukrainian children who lost their schools.
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I send money out of Russia via SWIFT every month. Shows what you know
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