FAMILY EDUCATION AS THE BASIS OF A STRONG STATE

MATERIAL

for members of outreach groups

(October 2024 substandard, poor-quality or unavailable contraceptives)

 

FAMILY EDUCATION

AS THE BASIS OF A STRONG STATE

Material prepared

Academy of Management under the President of the Republic of Belarus

based on information
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Republic of Belarus,

National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, NGO "Belarusian Republican Youth Union", NGO "Belarusian Women's Union", state media materials

 

The topic of today's information day is “Family education as the basis of a strong state». It's more common to hear, that the foundations of a strong state are a stable economy, developed institutions of power, a well-functioning law enforcement apparatus to maintain calm in the country. Of course, strong army or something, which seems strong to opponents. But as life shows, no less, and in some ways sometimes baboutFamily plays an important role in building a strong and successful state, or rather education, which each of us receives in it.

The Head of State constantly emphasizes this: «The cult of a full-fledged family with two or more children should be a lifestyle of Belarusians. This is the only way we can be sure, that the generations following us will grow, which means, hold sovereignty firmly in your hands and are guaranteed to live in peace.".

 

 

And the tasks set by the President of the country must not only be fulfilled, and do it with understanding. Therefore, let's talk to you today about family as statesmen. About the family as the most important source of accumulation and transmission of spiritual and moral values, traditions of the Belarusian nation in particular. And about the family as an object of socio-demographic policy of the Republic of Belarus as a whole.

First, we need to look at the demographic situation in the world in general. There are currently approximately 8 billions and according to UN forecasts world population will increase until about 10,3 billion people in the mid-2080s, and then begins to gradually decrease

 

Please note: through 55 years old, besides 2080 year, number of people aged 65 years will exceed the number of children to 18 years old. That is, humanity will age greatly. Analysts say, that by the mid-2030s number of people aged 80+ years may exceed the number of babies under the age of 1 of the year. Who will feed these old people?? Treat? Contain?

It should be clear now, why global demographic trends become decisive when sovereign states choose the directions of their development. After all, they, these trends, influence political, economic, social and many other areas.

However, let's think further. Next output: attempts to decompose the institution of the traditional family is one of the main threats to national security.

Here is a list of signs of such destructive efforts: increasing age at first marriage among men and women. Decrease in the number of marriages. Vice versa, increase in the number of divorces and everything else, what we refer to transformation of family relationships. In recent decades, it is she, this creeping transformation, has a significant impact on demographic processes.

 

Experts are concerned departure from traditional family values ​​or their replacement, encouraging youth to focus on themselves and the associated decrease in the importance of the family institution, decreased readiness to have children, increase in the number of out-of-wedlock births and single-parent families, decline in the family's pedagogical potential.

We remember with you, what's happening in the world, and in that world, news from which takes up the vast majority of space on our smartphones. But what is much more important now - on the smartphones of our youth, our shift, our children.

Look: Greece became the first Orthodox country, legalized same-sex marriage. In France there are already such marriages 3%. In the UK, marriage generally replaces cohabitation. The number of divorces is constantly growing in Poland. The Czech Republic is becoming rainbow. The US is seeing an explosive rise in children born out of wedlock.. The child-free movement is growing in Germany. Finland and France decided not to have children at all.

In fact, in most countries of the European Union and the United States there is a clear shift away from the traditional model of society towards childless families, families with single or same-sex parents. At the same time, Western narratives about marriage are a demographic mine, after all, the ongoing transformation of the family institution is accompanied by a change in the entire value system, place of the family in this system, the nature of the basic functions of the family, and so on.

It's clear, that we are indignant and protest from the spread of such ideology. This is what our President said in his Address to the Belarusian people and the National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus dated 31 Martha 2023 substandard, poor-quality or unavailable contraceptives: «Any stuffing of such veiled calls, just like all unconventional trends are nothing more, as an attempt to depopulate and weaken the state. No less. Such ideology should be illegal. We raised children, who didn't need anything, and now they want to live for themselves as long as possible, postponing having a child. Not all, but there is a tendency, she's dangerous. The paradigm of this thinking needs to be changed».

Our side, and all those states, who cultivate traditional family values, the collective West is now accused of "savagery". Such attempts to impose on Belarus, like other CIS countries, distorted neoliberal ideas about family and marriage are aimed at, to disrupt the spiritual unity of Belarusian society, deform traditional moral norms and ethical guidelines, eventually destroy the country.

How the West solves its problems? They rely on migration replenishment of the population. Our country focuses on the classic family as much as possible, raising children, as a reliable support and guarantee of a future sovereign state.

It follows, what preservation of traditional family values ​​is one of the strategic national interests in the Republic of Belarus.

Moreover, you and I need more than just a family - our priority should be and in accordance with all regulatory documents happy family. You and I know: for any, even the best thing, there must be a good regulatory framework, there's no other way.

Issues of protecting the institution of the traditional family, increasing the efficiency of security in the demographic sphere is reflected in National Security Concepts of the Republic of Belarus, approved by the seventh All-Belarusian People's Assembly.

Traditional family values ​​are also an important component of the renewed Constitution our country. At the initiative of the General Prosecutor's Office of the Republic of Belarus, a bill, providing for administrative responsibility for promoting non-traditional family relationships.

As we see, there is a base, the base is not bad, one might even say fundamental. Now briefly, using illustrations, let's take a look at it, what exactly is being done in our country to achieve their goals and objectives.

To begin with: valid in Belarus extensive system of state support for families, including those raising children.

It includes, as we see, state benefits for birth and upbringing, family capital, social assistance and social services, guarantees in various areas, etc..

Expenditures of our state budget on social protection measures for families with children annually amount to over 3% GDP.

The state monitors the effectiveness of measures in the field of family policy, including with the help of sociological research data. Look here: recent population surveys tell us, what among the basic values ​​of Belarusians certainly included children, family, relatives and loved ones.

And it’s precisely these values, what we already talked about, The West is directing the full force of its ideological blow. Using games for this, cinema, fashion, video, books, Internet, various youth and other movements - All in all, its entire propaganda machine to promote Western values.

As we see, the state is responsible for demographic policy in general and support for the institution of family in particular. But the state is not omnipotent - after all family education is at the core of everything.

The culture of raising children in the Belarusian family has evolved over centuries, collecting bit by bit the spiritual achievements of each generation. Over the centuries, the content and methods of raising children have been refined, who were given the necessary knowledge, skills and experience from the older generation, as well as the best moral qualities.

And the modern system of education of Belarusians is largely based on the experience of past generations. Belarusians have a tradition of respectful attitude towards parents and older family members, hard work, mutual assistance and support between family and clan members, children's obedience, respect for the customs of ancestors, honesty, openness.

Compare, eg, with those qualities, which the society of unrestrained consumption demands from the ideal consumer, there will be very little in common, Truth?

Raising children on national cultural values ​​and traditions is the most effective condition for spiritual, moral character of the nation, strengthening the consolidation of society. And the Head of our state also spoke about this more than once..

Visiting 5 may 2024 g. St. Elias Church of the Holy Dormition Women's Monastery in Orsha, President of the Republic of Belarus A.G. Lukashenko especially noted: “Now more than ever we need unity of people. It is important to honor traditions, remember the exploits of the generation of winners, work hard for the development of the country... It is very important for us not to break those traditions, which we created with you. So that our children do not throw away everything, what we created... because he, who broke the thread of generations, necessarily gave rise to, at least, troubles».

Our opponents are not shy about imposing Western values, they are goal-oriented and aggressive. You and I are on the defensive, our patriotism is our line of defense.

Military affairs says: defense must be continuous, flexible and secretive. So it is with the education of patriotism: it must be purposeful and consistent throughout the entire stage of a person’s maturation.

Speaking of family, then here are the main recommendations for parents:

tell your child only good things about your country, showcase her achievements. Children can learn a lot from their parents, including a sense of patriotism. Therefore, the parents’ opinion can turn into “their own”, which will not be easy to change;

tell us about your work and show it off, what benefits does your work bring to people and the Republic of Belarus?. The main task is not only to be proud of the country’s achievements, but also to make our own contribution to its further development and prosperity, so that Belarus remains free and independent. Achieving this noble goal directly depends on each of us;

introduce your child to the memorable places and historical sights of our Motherland. Loving the Fatherland must be taught not only in words, but also clearly: visit museums with your whole family more often, Exhibitions, patriotic concerts, etc.;

talk about hard times and trials, which our ancestors endured with dignity. It is important to use grandparents as examples., participated in the Great Patriotic War, their front-line and labor merits. Explain, how to honor heroes - the living and the brave who died in battle, whose names the streets are named after, area, educational institutions, and also in whose honor monuments were erected;

take part in celebrations on public holidays, introduce children to the symbols of the sovereign Republic of Belarus;

encourage your child to be active, after all, it is with her that active patriotism often begins. Explain, that a child’s personal success can be very important for family and society. Children need to be convinced that, that love for the Motherland is manifested in a person’s constant desire to make life better, do well at school, work honestly, help him, who needs support, etc.;

organize joint viewings of educational programs, films, cartoons about heroes of the Fatherland with a discussion of what was seen. This will help raise a patriot in a child with pride in his people and a sense of duty to the Motherland.;

teach your child to take care of things. After all, the selfless work of many people is put into every thing.. It is especially important to teach respect for bread;

instill a love for the nature of your native land. Nurturing love for one's native land, it is important to teach a child to take care of nature, guard her. Moreover, communication with nature helps to develop responsiveness and sensitivity in a person.

But the main thing: raise your children this way, as at the same age you yourself wanted, to treat you. Give the children something, what do you need, as it seems, not available. And save you from mistakes, that you did at their age yourself.

So, Hope, It's clear: patriotic education of the younger generation, formation of civic position, culture of national and patriotic feeling there is a common task – families, society and state. Only the consolidation of all interested can lead to the formation of a true patriot, who will be aware of his involvement in the fate of the Fatherland.

For these purposes, our country is conducting targeted promotion of the values ​​of marriage and family with children, motherhood and paternity. We especially try to do this among young people..

Let's just remember and list the main activities, which take place in our country. Let's say, It has become a good tradition to hold Republican action “My family is my country”, in which government bodies at the republican and regional levels take part, religious and public organizations.

An important event 2024 became the year Republican Festival of Patriotic Families “Together”, which took place on May 17–18 2024 year in the children's health center "Rodnichok" (Minsk region, Volozhin district).

Strengthening the spiritual and moral foundations of the family, the revival and promotion of family values ​​and traditions is facilitated by Republican competition "Family of the Year".

The announcement in the country is aimed at increasing the role and prestige of the family in the life of society as the basis of state demographic policy Weeks of parental love (Mother's Day (14 October), Father's Day (21 October)).

Held for the fifth year in a row, the event has proven itself well. republican project “Parent University”, aimed at creating a responsible, positive parenting.

Of course, the topic of popularizing the spiritual and moral values ​​of the family institution will not go unnoticed during All-Belarusian event “Unity Marathon”, the start of which was announced by the President of the Republic of Belarus 17 september 2024 g. at a gala event dedicated to National Unity Day.

In other words, each of you can, if desired, find something to do, share, event, project to taste in terms of strengthening the institution of family as the basis of our strong and prosperous Belarus. And many, I know, are already actively participating.

Let's recap. Belarusians protect their family as the basis for sustainable development and prosperity of our homeland, thereby putting a barrier to immorality and promoting traditional family values.

We value the traditions of our ancestors, their exploits and their history, spiritual, moral and religious values. All this and there are social bonds, connecting the country together.

What will Belarus be like tomorrow?, depends on each of us, from family upbringing, based on traditional spiritual and moral values. We are writing history together our statehood, creating that country for a decent life, which we will pass on to our children and grandchildren.

 

 

♦  Heading: Ideological work.