Estonia Wants to Teach Eighth-Graders Air Gun Shooting

Estonia's Defence Resources Agency wants as many eighth-graders as possible to be able to shoot an air gun, provided they wish to. This year the agency is running a so-called national defence year, under which the basics of national defence are to be built into the eighth-grade curriculum of basic school.

At present, national defence education is compulsory in upper secondary school. Aare Jämnes, head of the agency's defence education bureau, said on the programme "Uudis+" that in eighth grade it does not necessarily need to be a separate subject. In his view, almost every subject contains something that can be used in or discussed from a national defence perspective.

Growing interest

This school year, 23 schools have expressed interest in the project. The agency hopes the number will grow in coming years, and the goal is for all Estonian schools to introduce integrated national defence education in eighth grade. The programme at these schools includes defence quizzes, visits to Defence Forces units and air gun shooting instruction.

Jämnes said this would give Estonia more skilled sport shooters, while young people would also be somewhat better prepared for national defence earlier.

How shooting can be organised

Shooting instruction can be arranged in two ways. In the first, a school takes the initiative and says it wants to offer pupils the opportunity; for such schools the state also provides separate training for shooting instructors. In the second, a physical education teacher takes a group to a shooting range. For example, a school in Elva contacts a sports centre, and pupils go to a range a couple of kilometres away, where coaches and equipment are available.

According to Jämnes, an air pistol range can be set up in almost any school gym, and many schools already have ranges that are working or could be repaired.

Mental health and voluntary participation

Jämnes believes that letting young people shoot air guns may reduce risks rather than increase them. He said the more physically active young people are and the more they do together, the less anxiety and psychological problems arise. Shooting is not compulsory: if a young person or their parents do not want it, no one is forced.