An illiterate child is a shame of a mother 1930

An Illiterate Child Is a Shame of a Mother (“Неграмотный ребёнок – позор матери”) is a Soviet propaganda poster created by I. Gromitsky in 1930. It was produced as part of the likbez campaign, the nationwide effort to eradicate illiteracy in the USSR. The poster’s slogan declares that an illiterate child is a disgrace for the mother, placing strong responsibility on parents, especially women, to ensure their children attend school. The artwork shows children confidently climbing steps with books in hand, symbolizing progress and the promise of education, while in the background a mother is depicted dragging back a child who resists schooling, representing ignorance and shame. The sharp contrast between the forward-moving students and the reluctant child, reinforced by bold red, yellow, and gray colors, conveys urgency and moral clarity. By tying literacy to maternal honor, the poster reflects the Soviet conviction that education was not merely a personal opportunity but a civic and moral duty essential for building socialism