As for “helpful to adults”, it’s not exactly Soviet thing. All cultures/nations that were forced under Soviet rule had that mentality. And still have to big extent. Although there’s less and less automatic respect to adults/elders in last decade or two, it’s still there.
Of course I'd recommend watching the whole thing (or even the Alisa cartoon), for good examples of non-western juvenile SF, but in this case I was deliberately trying to show an example of non-western classroom behaviour management.
It may not have been entirely realistic, but judging from the nostalgic comments I've seen, it was not so unrealistic that students at the time it was aired found it ludicrous.
(counterargument: Friends — has many fans, but just how did NY baristas afford apartments like those?)
(I got most of my political jokes from VK. To be fair, most of them, especially the Brezhnev-era, can be used in the current US with only a few name changes.)
[1] Humour usually involves quickly switching between possible interpretations. Action movies tend to be much less ambiguous.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XT9VBW87QXw
Note the rigid uniformity, and how students are expected to stand when giving answers. It may also be a good example of the extent to which academically strong students were dragged down by their peers?
(The whole movie is subversive in certain ways. I understand soviet children were indoctrinated to be helpful to adults, but in the movie Julia's grandmother —who may have had some experience herself with the value of keeping one's mouth shut— helps them buck the system.)
On sexism in the soviet union:
Today, little Johnny's class has a pair[1] of teaching observers. After waiting a moment with no hands raised, the teacher calls on Johnny, asking him what inspired Pushkin to write To the Beauty. Johnny answers, "she has such fine legs. I bet her ass — exquisite." "Citizen John!" exclaims the teacher, "go straight to Principal, and tell him what you said!"
On his way out the door, Johnny angrily denounces the teaching observers: "next time you prompt, Comrades, please ensure you know correct answer."
[1] one who can read, and one who can write. Their job is to keep a watchful eye on the intellectuals teaching the classes.