This paper discusses the ongoing patriotic education campaign in Russia and how school practitioners interpret patriotism and patriotic education. Patriotism is interpreted in Russia through terms that span the whole political and ideological spectrum from almost extreme left to extreme right, accurately reflecting the existing dichotomy deeply entrenched in Russian culture and mentality. In this study, more than 300 of Russia's teachers participated in a survey about the elements of patriotic education (return rate--77%). The author argues that despite a strong tendency to rationalize patriotism in political and educational discourses through traditionalistic and militaristic frameworks, teachers' opinions about patriotism and patriotic education are more nuanced and pragmatic.