How Can I Teach My Kids About Communism?

[Len Snark]

I teach sophomores and one of the hardest things to do is explain the difference between capitalism and communism. I can lecture about it and make examples all day long, but there's always the kid who doesn't get it. I'm hoping to create some sort of simple, one or two day activity that helps them understand it.

Right now I use a "Rock Paper Scissors" assignment where most kids get one "token" and a few get five tokens. All kids start playing Rock/Paper/Scissors and if they lose, they have to give their token to the winner. You can't play if you lose and probability dictates that most kids will be out of the game fairly quickly, a few will prosper and become moderately "wealthy" with tokens, and the ones who started off with the most tokens will remain the ones with the most tokens.

The problem is, that illustrates the motivation behind communism but it is simplistic and doesn't do a good job of showing what life is like in a communist society.

Any ideas? You're a creative bunch and I know there are some teachers on here too...

[EasyE726]

Just bring Van Sciver into your class..he'll set em straight.

[19bernardo87]

One thing is for certain: do not let them watch Fox News.

[Sean Jackson]

Just take all their money from them, then divide it up evenly among them, AFTER making sure that you get everything you want to make you comfortable. Then you'll be teaching them real world communism.

[Taxman]

I would think that having gone through the public school system they would have learned all there was to know already.

[NickT]

Make them line up for bread.

[Taxman]

Here is a backhanded idea. Have either a test or a project of some sort. After it is completed come up with some sort of explanation about "fairness" or something like and tell them that they will all be graded the same for their efforts.

Hopefully, there will be some sort of protest over this. Have a discussion about it and use classic communist propaganda points as your defense. Then when the time is right, explain the lesson.

[schizorabbit]

Make them line up for bread.

:rofl:

[Black Roman]

Have them read something by George Orwell, practically everything the guy did was aimed at communism.

[Dan-C]

Just take all their money from them, then divide it up evenly among them, AFTER making sure that you get everything you want to make you comfortable. Then you'll be teaching them real world communism.

Actually, this would probably work better with something like a pop quiz. Give them 20 questions, and no matter how many questions they get right, they all wind up with the same score. So the kid that got a 19/20 gets the same 11 points as the kid who got 3/20.

And make them believe it counts toward their grade. That will make them happy.

[Len Snark]

Have them read something by George Orwell, practically everything the guy did was aimed at communism.

Keep in mind I'm in the public school system and we are on a pacing guide. :(

[schizorabbit]

Have two or three of the most opinionated kids from your class expelled, and then photoshop them out of all class pictures and yearbooks as if they had never existed. When someone starts asking questions about their inexplicable disappearances, make them disappear as well.

[Buk Was Right]

Have 'em read this:
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/410ULhks5KL._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click,TopRight,35,-76_AA240_SH20_OU01_.jpg

Amirite guys?

[Buk Was Right]

Actually, this would probably work better with something like a pop quiz. Give them 20 questions, and no matter how many questions they get right, they all wind up with the same score. So the kid that got a 19/20 gets the same 11 points as the kid who got 3/20.

And make them believe it counts toward their grade. That will make them happy.

This is actually what the teacher did in my high school gov't class.

But he purposely lowered one kids score so it looked like he was dragging us all down just to see how we'd react.

[PatrickA]

Actually, this would probably work better with something like a pop quiz. Give them 20 questions, and no matter how many questions they get right, they all wind up with the same score. So the kid that got a 19/20 gets the same 11 points as the kid who got 3/20.

And make them believe it counts toward their grade. That will make them happy.


Then, execute the students who complain.

[Dan-C]

Then, execute the students who complain.

Well, that's just a given.

Or, you could always just go on a class field trip to Russia.


In January.


With everyone wearing shorts.


And only you get to drink Vodka to keep warm, because you are the teacher, and you fucking said so!

[Ashwin Pande]

Teach them about the US Government threat level chart.

1. Terrorist -> Ultimate Evil. We will destroy you and whatever country you live in. (Except Saudi Arabia)

2. Communist -> Less of an evil since 1990. We will tolerate you but be wary of your existence. (Unless we outsource our industry to your country because of cheap labor)

3. Hippies -> We can tolerate you individually but if a group of you gathers in a college somewhere, we just might shoot you in the face. (Goddamn right. Fuck hippies.)

4. Fags -> We will allow you to live but we will not give you rights because then all our kids will become fairies too and the lesbos will convert all women and god fearing straight men might have to start fucking horses.

[Buk Was Right]

Then, execute the students who complain.


Well, that's just a given.

You don't execute them.

They just disappear. Forever.

[Black Roman]

Teach them about the US Government threat level chart.

1. Terrorist -> Ultimate Evil. We will destroy you and whatever country you live in. (Except Saudi Arabia)

2. Communist -> Less of an evil since 1990. We will tolerate you but be wary of your existence. (Unless we outsource our industry to your country because of cheap labor)

3. Hippies -> We can tolerate you individually but if a group of you gathers in a college somewhere, we just might shoot you in the face. (Goddamn right. Fuck hippies.)

4. Fags -> We will allow you to live but we will not give you rights because then all our kids will become fairies too and the lesbos will convert all women and god fearing straight men might have to start fucking horses.

Oh, I lol'd. But it's so damn true it hurts.

[Damian696]

field trip to Cuba ?

[Len Snark]

I could have dissenters pulled out of class by a (previously notified) VP, I suppose. Probably not a good idea for night school.

Those AP kids would freak out if I threatened to lower their grades! :lol:

[SgtPepper]

Have two or three of the most opinionated kids from your class expelled, and then photoshop them out of all class pictures and yearbooks as if they had never existed. When someone starts asking questions about their inexplicable disappearances, make them disappear as well.

Kill one of the kids with a mountain climber's axe. Have the assassin be one of your agents disguised as the decedent's gardener.

[Doc Randy]

Have them read something by George Orwell, practically everything the guy did was aimed at communism.


Wrong. Orwell was a socialist.
What Orwell was against was authoritarianism, fascism, plutocracy, and oligarchies.

In fact, much if not most of his "targets" were elements of unchecked capitalism.

[Black Roman]

Orwell was a socialist.

My point being, his books did not paint communism (or communist nations and mentalities, rather) in a favorable light.

[schizorabbit]

That kid that drew that crude caricature of you in diapers and licking whip cream off a midget clown's crotch? Slip some polonium-210 into his lunch and watch him slowly deteriorate and die from radiation poisoning.

[Rafiennes]

http://www.impawards.com/1985/posters/white_nights_ver1.jpg

Show them White Nights...and show them how dancing changed the world...

[PeterSparker]

Replace the school newspaper with The Daily Worker. (then shut down any dissenting newspaper that might arise as a result)

Bang your shoe on the table.

Build a wall in the middle of the lunchroom.

Name, names.

[NickT]

Actually, this would probably work better with something like a pop quiz. Give them 20 questions, and no matter how many questions they get right, they all wind up with the same score. So the kid that got a 19/20 gets the same 11 points as the kid who got 3/20.

And make them believe it counts toward their grade. That will make them happy.
That sounds a pretty good one.

[Black Roman]

Wrong. Orwell was a socialist.
What Orwell was against was authoritarianism, fascism, plutocracy, and oligarchies.

In fact, much if not most of his "targets" were elements of unchecked capitalism.

Sooo, you WOULDN'T view Animal Farm as an allegory about the pros and cons of communism? :dunno:

[Doc Randy]

You could also talk about the Israeli Kibbutz movement.

[Ashwin Pande]

Sooo, you WOULDN'T view Animal Farm as an allegory about the pros and cons of communism? :dunno:

There were pros in that book?

[Black Roman]

There were pros in that book?


Hmmm. True.

[Dusto]

Sooo, you WOULDN'T view Animal Farm as an allegory about the pros and cons of communism? :dunno:

No, I'd view it as an allegory about what happened in the specific instance of communist Russia as Stalin became more and more of a dictator.

[Doc Randy]

Sooo, you WOULDN'T view Animal Farm as an allegory about the pros and cons of communism? :dunno:


No. Not at all, though it often gets misinterpreted that way.

You have to remember that Orwell was a very vocal Democratic Socialist.

Animal Farm is a critique of authoritarianism... be it from communism or capitalism. The book doesn't critique the economic system, but the system of governance and control.

In fact, the very last line of the book shows that the authoritarian rulers in capitalist and communist systems were indistinguishable.

"The creatures outside looked from pig to man, and from man to pig, and from pig to man again; but already it was impossible to say which was which."

It is kind of sad how so many Americans are taught such a fucked up distortion of Orwell.

Interesting bit of trivia: the animated film of the book was funded by the CIA. Also, the CIA removed the last line of the book - which was one of Orwell's key points to the whole story.

[Black Roman]

No. Not at all, though it often gets misinterpreted that way.

You have to remember that Orwell was a very vocal Democratic Socialist.

Animal Farm is a critique of authoritarianism... be it from communism or capitalism. The book doesn't critique the economic system, but the system of governance and control.

In fact, the very last line of the book shows that the authoritarian rulers in capitalist and communist systems were indistinguishable.


"The creatures outside looked from pig to man, and from man to pig, and from pig to man again; but already it was impossible to say which was which."

It is kind of sad how so many Americans are taught such a fucked up distortion of Orwell.

Interesting bit of trivia, the animated film of the book was funded by the CIA. Also, the CIA removed the lat line of the book.



Well, my mistake, I'll admit it's been a VERY long time since I read the book. Also, the very IDEA of an animated Animal Farm would get a serious raised eyebrow from me. The book doesn't exactly scream "family-friendly" entertainment.


Think of all the work it would undo from Charlotte's Web and Babe! :nonono2:


EDIT: Actaully, I seem to remember TNT making a live-action version of this, but they marketed it as if it were a "Babe"-esque family film, which seems odd to me.

[Len Snark]

Sooo, you WOULDN'T view Animal Farm as an allegory about the pros and cons of communism? :dunno:

I *do* show Animal Farm and it is great. Most of the kids "get it" but I wanted to add an activity too...



There were pros in that book?

Everything prior to the Stalin Pig (Napoleon) taking over.

[WillieLee]

Kill half the class and starve the rest. Then tell them it's for the benefit of the school.

[Doc Randy]

I *do* show Animal Farm and it is great. Most of the kids "get it" but I wanted to add an activity too...



Do you at least tell the kids you are showing them CIA-produced propaganda that distorts the original message of the book?

[Ashwin Pande]

I *do* show Animal Farm and it is great. Most of the kids "get it" but I wanted to add an activity too...




Everything prior to the Stalin Pig (Napoleon) taking over.

But it was temporary and their society went downhill so fast. They ended up
trading one master for another. That was the point of the last scene. To show that in the end it wasn't worth it and in fact led to an even more oppressive and dangerous regime.

[Doc Randy]

You could also show them some episodes of Star Trek.

[Ashwin Pande]

Kill half the class and starve the rest. Then tell them it's for the benefit of the school.

:lol:

[Ashwin Pande]

You could also show them some episodes of Star Trek.

For Communism?

Or do you mean the entire system of the Federation being socialistic in nature?

[Len Snark]

No. Not at all, though it often gets misinterpreted that way...It is kind of sad how so many Americans are taught such a fucked up distortion of Orwell.

Orwell referred to the book as his novel "contre Stalin" and suggested the French title as "Union des républiques socialistes animales" (URSA means "bear", as in Russian Bear in Latin).

He wrote the book after the Spanish Civil War as a critique of totalitarianism in all of its forms. He wrote: "...I saw a little boy, perhaps ten years old, driving a huge carthorse along a narrow path, whipping it whenever it tried to turn. It struck me that if only such animals became aware of their strength we should have no power over them, and that men exploit animals in much the same way as the rich exploit the proletariat."

I agree that Orwell liked Socialism, but it is indeed an attack on the excesses of communism.

[Len Snark]

But it was temporary and their society went downhill so fast. They ended up trading one master for another. That was the point of the last scene. To show that in the end it wasn't worth it and in fact led to an even more oppressive and dangerous regime.

That's true, but it is a glorious society while it lasts.

[Doc Randy]

For Communism?

Or do you mean the entire system of the Federation being socialistic in nature?


There are some strong similarities between the organization of the Federation (especially on Earth) and lite version of Bolshevism. Strong hierarchical organization organized along military lines, one single party/governing body (The Federation), socialist economy, etc...

[s.oliver]

I've read Das Kapital as well as part of the Communist Manifesto, and I've lived in a
Socialist country for eleven years... but yet, I couldn't tell you what Communism really is.
I wish you the best of luck.

[TheChronoTrigger]

http://img21.imageshack.us/img21/9899/redherring.gif
Tell them that Communism is just a red herring.

[WNCE]

Rocky 4.

[Doc Randy]

Orwell referred to the book as his novel "contre Stalin" and suggested the French title as "Union des républiques socialistes animales" (URSA means "bear", as in Russian Bear in Latin).

He wrote the book after the Spanish Civil War as a critique of totalitarianism in all of its forms. He wrote: "...I saw a little boy, perhaps ten years old, driving a huge carthorse along a narrow path, whipping it whenever it tried to turn. It struck me that if only such animals became aware of their strength we should have no power over them, and that men exploit animals in much the same way as the rich exploit the proletariat."

I agree that Orwell liked Socialism, but it is indeed an attack on the excesses of communism.


It was more of a critique of Stalin and how he corrupted the dream of socialism that many fought for.

Burt it wasn't communism per se that was his target. He never critiqued the economic idea of socialism or even the idea of communism. Just look at his sympathetic portrayal of Snowball. Orwell believed in communism. He Believed in Lenin's original vision.

It was the authoritarianism of Stalin (as portrayed by Napolean) that he criticized and directly compared to the fascist and authoritarian rule of some capitalist societies.

[Ashwin Pande]

I wonder what Orwell would write about modern day China.

I mean, it's the closest any society has actually come to INGSOC so far.

[Len Snark]

It was more of a critique of Stalin and how he corrupted the dream of socialism that many fought for.

Burt it wasn't communism per se that was his target. He never critiqued the economic idea of socialism or even the idea of communism. Just look at his sympathetic portrayal of Snowball. Orwell believed in communism. He Believed in Lenin's original vision.

It was the authoritarianism of Stalin (as portrayed by Napolean) that he criticized and directly compared to the fascist and authoritarian rule of some capitalist societies.

Ah, I see. You just misinterpreted my original statement (or I, yours). We agree--Animal Farm is a good portrayal of socialism while also critiquing the excesses of Stalin.

[WillieLee]

Orwell never had a problem cashing those cheques!

[cweed4]

Right now I use a "Rock Paper Scissors" assignment where most kids get one "token" and a few get five tokens. All kids start playing Rock/Paper/Scissors and if they lose, they have to give their token to the winner. You can't play if you lose and probability dictates that most kids will be out of the game fairly quickly, a few will prosper and become moderately "wealthy" with tokens, and the ones who started off with the most tokens will remain the ones with the most tokens.
You could start by NOT having them play a game that exemplifies capitalism. This assignment essentially demonstrates that wealth begets wealth, resulting in a sharp divide between economic classes.

To teach them communist principles have them start w/ no tokens. Come up with some kind of quiz or task where each student can earn numerous tokens. At the end of this game you confiscate all tokens. Then, you distribute them equally among the class regardless of each student's contribution to the accumulation of these tokens.

"from each according to their abililty, to each according to their need"-Karl Marx

[Ben]

Wait, you want to teach them about communism? I thought that in communist countries, students teach you.

[Doc Randy]

"from each according to their abililty, to each according to their need"-Karl Marx

This line is actually a variation of a passage in the Bible.

Acts 4:32-35


32. And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.
33. And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.
34. Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold,
35. And laid them down at the apostles' feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need.

Jesus was a commie.

[Ryan_ZOOM_Turner]

Kill half the class and starve the rest. Then tell them it's for the benefit of the school.

:rofl:

[Ryan_ZOOM_Turner]

Orwell never had a problem cashing those cheques!

:lol:

[Ashwin Pande]

What I find funny is that in America when you say Left you mean liberal.

In every other country in the world Left means communist or socialist/marxist.

I just find it funny that it's not even an option. It's still so reviled as the enemy that it's not even an option.

[Jef UK]

Shouldn't you be teaching how capitalism and socialism are different, and then explain how communism perverted the tenets of socialism?

[Heroic Age Moe]

To teach them communist principles have them start w/ no tokens. Come up with some kind of quiz or task where each student can earn numerous tokens. At the end of this game you confiscate all tokens. Then, you distribute them equally among the class regardless of each student's contribution to the accumulation of these tokens.

"from each according to their abililty, to each according to their need"-Karl Marx


I like that idea, maybe in conjunction with the quiz. Maybe instead of tokens use free grade points or leave class early credits or something.

[Jonathan Callan]

Any ideas? You're a creative bunch and I know there are some teachers on here too...

I've had to do this a few times and from my perspective, the only fair way to do it is to explain the ideal version of communism or Marxism and then explain how and why that dream went awry. But for kids to get it, they need to understand why people wanted it.

To me, the best metaphor is also one of the most enduring among Communist writers: the basket. Imagine a basket where every member of a town puts the result of their labors. Anything you need you may take from the basket, the only requirement is that you work hard and put what you make back into it.

"From each according to his abilities, to each according to each his needs."

Simple.

[Jonathan Callan]

This line is actually a variation of a passage in the Bible.

Acts 4:32-35


32. And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.
33. And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.
34. Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold,
35. And laid them down at the apostles' feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need.

Jesus was a commie.

This was the other thing I was going to suggest. Often when I have trouble explaining the idea behind communism and I explain that it is a government based on the philosophies espoused by Jesus, people seem to comprehend it. It encompasses many of the ideas I'm trying to get across - both the reason a communist society would be a noble thing and why human beings could never achieve it.

But mentions of religion being what they are in public schools...

[Ray G.]

Wrong. Orwell was a socialist.
What Orwell was against was authoritarianism, fascism, plutocracy, and oligarchies.

In fact, much if not most of his "targets" were elements of unchecked capitalism.

The way I saw it, his two greatest works were aimed one against Communism and one against fascism. The man was a great advocate against totalitarianism in all its forms.

[Ray G.]

You could also talk about the Israeli Kibbutz movement.

Voluntary socialist movements in private groups don't really prove much. I believe there are a few small hippie communes run in similar ways in America, right?

Any good lessons in communism should probably focus on Marx' original ideas, followed by an exploration of how it has failed horribly every time it was implemented as an actual form of government.

I like the idea of a game where the students compete for something tangible (maybe a quiz game based on the lesson) and then at the end of the game all the rewards are redistributed equally. :twisted:

My fifth grade teacher did this, but she wasn't teaching us about communism. As I had racked up twice as many points as anyone else, I was displeased. And so a Republican was born.

[Ray G.]

Half the suggestions in this thread might get our friend fired. :lol:

[artimoff]

You could also show them some episodes of Star Trek.

But Colonel Green killed 90% of earth's population. That's the only to make it kinda work.

[RebootedCorpse]

The problem is there never has been a true communist society.
But if you are interested in the ideas behind it this is the best primer I've ever read.
http://g-images.amazon.com/images/G/01/ciu/91/75/be809330dca05e63100a3010.L.jpg

[artimoff]

Jesus was a commie.

That's why if I had a time machine I wouldn't go back & kill Hitler, I'd kill Jesus.

[Ashwin Pande]

The problem is there never has been a true communist society.
But if you are interested in the ideas behind it this is the best primer I've ever read.
http://g-images.amazon.com/images/G/01/ciu/91/75/be809330dca05e63100a3010.L.jpg

I've got that. It's really good.

That entire Illustrated "For Beginners" series is really good. They explain really complicated stuff in very simple terms.

[Buk Was Right]

Half the suggestions in this thread might get our friend fired. :lol:

I fail to see how that effects me, pinko!

I'm all for the Rocky IV suggestion actually.

That movie taught me that if I can change and if youse can change then maybe we can all change.

[Jason California]

Here is a backhanded idea. Have either a test or a project of some sort. After it is completed come up with some sort of explanation about "fairness" or something like and tell them that they will all be graded the same for their efforts.

Hopefully, there will be some sort of protest over this. Have a discussion about it and use classic communist propaganda points as your defense. Then when the time is right, explain the lesson.


My high school freshman science teacher gave me an A for the semester that I did not earn to teach me about communism.

[SgtPepper]

http://images.southparkstudios.com/crap/downloads/preview_image_thumbnail.php?id=7682

"How do I reach these keeedz?"

[PhoenixFactor]

I've used the Action Philosophers comic in my history class to teach the basic concepts of Karl Marx and communism and a role play like urs.

[Jonathan Callan]

I've used the Action Philosophers comic in my history class to teach the basic concepts of Karl Marx and communism and a role play like urs.

That's a good suggestion. That comic rules.

[s.oliver]

I've used the Action Philosophers comic [...]


[...] That comic rules.

I'll "third" these with a vengeance. The bonbon-coloured Giant Size Thing(s
aka TPBs) are very affordable, too. You'd be looking for #2 for Marx.

[danlomb]

Dreary, tan school-uniforms.

[Frozen Sooner]

Most of the suggestions here are gross oversimplifications of communism designed to make the kids hate the concept. I'm no fan of communism myself, but it's Len's job to teach them to be able to think critically about communism, not just hate it outright.

Len, I would suggest an exercise that forces the kids to develop the philosophy themselves. Follow the progression of Das Kapital with leading questions and deliberately loaded language. Are workers entitled to the fruits of their labor? If the means of production are controlled by an elite, how can workers reap the benefit of their labor? Are workers entitled to a fair wage by right? If an employer refuses to pay a fair wage and the state refuses to force them to, do the workers have the right to use violence towards their ends?

Stuff like that.

Then talk about Marx' predictions and how they have and haven't been borne out. Talk about how communism seems to inevitably devolve into authoritarianism and the withering away of the state never seems to happen.

[Frozen Sooner]

"Everything Marx told us about capitalism was true. Everything Marx told us about communism was false."-William Gibson

[Pia Guerra]

Just give them an overview of the history. Explain what Russia was like under the czars and why communism ended up being so appealing to the masses. From there it's not hard to see how human nature made such a movement impossible to realize.

[Humphrey_Lee]

Just find them something else that meant well at heart, but failed horribly at execution because it was just too unrealistic... so, bring in a Laserdisc!

[chess]

It's the difference between rape and seduction.;)

Something to consider...

Check out Henry Hazlett's "Economics in One Lesson" or Hayek's "The Road to Serfdom" and see if this helps you.

One of the benefits of capitalism is our price system. It is very easy to tell value with our pricing system. Think of this... how many dozen eggs vs blue jeans vs automobile. Let's say eggs cost $1 and blue jeans cost $25 and an auto costs $25,000. How many dozen eggs would it take to buy a pair of blue jeans? An auto? (Now consider shortages and what happens to prices.)

Now, consider a store that buys red and green shirts under capitalism. Let's say red is a popular color, green is not, and you sell a lot of red shirts. What do you do to sell your green shirts? Have a sale and lower prices?

Under communism, it is more difficult because the means of production is dictated from the leadership. Without price to determine value, it is very difficult to determine the cost of production vs alternatives. (So, how many shirts should we produce vs automobiles?) It is also difficult to cater to individual tastes. (American professor Frank Knight was requested to look at this during the cold war. He determined that the USSR used the American prices to help soviet leadership determine value for planning purposes.)

In addition, use some real examples. While the US was producing the Ford Taurus, the communist countries had the Yugo. While the US had homes of all types to be bought at anytime, many soviets waited for small apartments.

[Pia Guerra]

In addition, use some real examples. While the US was producing the Ford Taurus, the communist countries had the Yugo. While the US had homes of all types to be bought at anytime, many soviets waited for small apartments.

But the Lada was an awesome lil' car! My aunt drove one in Ontario and I so wanted one... I was twelve but I still wanted one when I got older.

I once rode in a Yugo, that was a terrifying experience.

What made the Soviet Union so messed up when it came to commodities like houses was that the nice ones, the big classical homes and palaces, invariably were only available to high ranking government officials while the workers ended up with the crappy apartments. It really didn't represent the idea of "to each according to his need" and everyone knew it. The Black Market thrived off that disparity.

[Patrick J]

Make sure you know your schools individual rules on such things because this is an idea that could be used as a very good and simple activator, but I know some schools could be uppity about the materials used.

But start the class off with a simple activator, or a "Do Now" activity asking students to list examples of Community Owned Property; interstate highways, if they're sports fans you could address the difference between The Green Bay Packers (a community owned sports team) vs. The Dallas Cowboys (owned by Jerry Jones). Also address the difference between Public Schools vs. Private Schools.

Then a simple, short way of just introducing the concepts involves this;
bring in a bag of candy, preferably something that won't make a mess - Starburst or M&M's but not Peanut M&M's 'cause I know most schools would probably get up in arms about that given all the kids with Peanut Allergies. In any event make sure its a bag of something that can easily be divided up.

Offer to sell the bag of candy to the highest bidder. Inevitably you will have one student who will (recognizing that this is a lesson) offer you something ridiculous like $20 for the bag. They get the bag. You take the cash. Capitalism. The limited resource (the bag of candy) goes to the one with the greatest dollar amount.

Then of course give the kid their money back and take back the bag of candy.

The open the bag up and distribute one piece of candy to each and every student. The bag is community owned and therefore its contents are shared amongst all students. Communism. But then you can ask if anyone wants more and when they do tell 'em tough - they got their ration. You don't have to do that last part but you can if you so choose.

It's an oversimplification but its an activator. It starts the discussion and doesn't have to be any more complicated.

From there you can go into the greater details on the history of, and the development of communism and capitalism. I'm going to hope and assume that these kids already have some background on The Industrial Revolution?

As a summarizer ask the students what they view as the pros and cons of both and which manner of society they'd want to live in and why; perhaps in the form of a Journal Entry if you do that sort of thing.

Maybe also use an example such as eBay to further talk about Capitalism. Again, go back to the trough of Sports Analogies pending on the students - if there's a particularly popular player on the local team ask how much they believe that players' Rookie Card would get if sold. Then think of a crappy or unpopular player and ask how much that players' Rookie Card would get on eBay or elsewhere. All as a way of, again oversimplifying - Supply and Demand.

Keep using your "Rock, Paper, Scissors" activity as it sounds good.

If you wanted to go into further detail of Communism in the USSR as part of another lesson have the students write down/list what it is they want to be when they grow up and leave it on a sign at the front of their desks. Then pass out a hat and have them randomly pick a piece of paper that will have a job description on it, and tell them that that is going to be their job. If they complain maybe establish a part of the room that you can call 'The Gulag,' and have them remain there for at least part of the period, at least until that part of the lesson is complete.

But do stress that there really has never been a "genuine" Communist society. And keep asking their own ideas and opinions on the matter and ask why they think one system would work versus another. Stress the pros and cons of both.

You may also want to do some research into the various "Utopian Communities" or Communes that were established in the United States in the mid 1800's through the early 1900's, such as The Harmony Society in Pennsylvania, or the Oneida and the Modern Times Communes in NY.

[fuerstma]

Have them read The Commanding Heights.

If that takes too long, or you're not allowed to assign books, get the PBS Mini-Series based on the book. I think it's 2 - 2 hour programs.

It's absolutely fascinating and they'll come away knowing more about communism, the Great Depression, Free Markets than their parents.

I learned more in the 4 hours watching it than in some of my Masters Level Economics classes.

Signed, The Economics Geek

[SgtPepper]

Make sure you know your schools individual rules on such things because this is an idea that could be used as a very good and simple activator, but I know some schools could be uppity about the materials used.

But start the class off with a simple activator, or a "Do Now" activity asking students to list examples of Community Owned Property; interstate highways, if they're sports fans you could address the difference between The Green Bay Packers (a community owned sports team) vs. The Dallas Cowboys (owned by Jerry Jones). Also address the difference between Public Schools vs. Private Schools.

Then a simple, short way of just introducing the concepts involves this;
bring in a bag of candy, preferably something that won't make a mess - Starburst or M&M's but not Peanut M&M's 'cause I know most schools would probably get up in arms about that given all the kids with Peanut Allergies. In any event make sure its a bag of something that can easily be divided up.

Offer to sell the bag of candy to the highest bidder. Inevitably you will have one student who will (recognizing that this is a lesson) offer you something ridiculous like $20 for the bag. They get the bag. You take the cash. Capitalism. The limited resource (the bag of candy) goes to the one with the greatest dollar amount.

Then of course give the kid their money back and take back the bag of candy.

The open the bag up and distribute one piece of candy to each and every student. The bag is community owned and therefore its contents are shared amongst all students. Communism. But then you can ask if anyone wants more and when they do tell 'em tough - they got their ration. You don't have to do that last part but you can if you so choose.

It's an oversimplification but its an activator. It starts the discussion and doesn't have to be any more complicated.

From there you can go into the greater details on the history of, and the development of communism and capitalism. I'm going to hope and assume that these kids already have some background on The Industrial Revolution?

As a summarizer ask the students what they view as the pros and cons of both and which manner of society they'd want to live in and why; perhaps in the form of a Journal Entry if you do that sort of thing.

Maybe also use an example such as eBay to further talk about Capitalism. Again, go back to the trough of Sports Analogies pending on the students - if there's a particularly popular player on the local team ask how much they believe that players' Rookie Card would get if sold. Then think of a crappy or unpopular player and ask how much that players' Rookie Card would get on eBay or elsewhere. All as a way of, again oversimplifying - Supply and Demand.

Keep using your "Rock, Paper, Scissors" activity as it sounds good.

If you wanted to go into further detail of Communism in the USSR as part of another lesson have the students write down/list what it is they want to be when they grow up and leave it on a sign at the front of their desks. Then pass out a hat and have them randomly pick a piece of paper that will have a job description on it, and tell them that that is going to be their job. If they complain maybe establish a part of the room that you can call 'The Gulag,' and have them remain there for at least part of the period, at least until that part of the lesson is complete.

But do stress that there really has never been a "genuine" Communist society. And keep asking their own ideas and opinions on the matter and ask why they think one system would work versus another. Stress the pros and cons of both.

You may also want to do some research into the various "Utopian Communities" or Communes that were established in the United States in the mid 1800's through the early 1900's, such as The Harmony Society in Pennsylvania, or the Oneida and the Modern Times Communes in NY.

New Harmony, Indiana!

[Doc Randy]

Have them read The Commanding Heights.

If that takes too long, or you're not allowed to assign books, get the PBS Mini-Series based on the book. I think it's 2 - 2 hour programs.

It's absolutely fascinating and they'll come away knowing more about communism, the Great Depression, Free Markets than their parents.

I learned more in the 4 hours watching it than in some of my Masters Level Economics classes.

Signed, The Economics Geek

Really? In the 10 years since the book came out, I think almost all of the neoliberal free market ideology the authors had been pushing seems a bit shortsighted - especially in light of recent events.

[Jason Baur]

Orwell was a socialist. Socialist =/= communist. This is an important distinction that gets elided far too often, especially in American political discourse. Just because Orwell was very much of the left doesn't mean Animal Farm was not a critique of Communism.

Though to be fair we must make careful distinction between socialism, democratic socialism, communism (as theorized by Marx), and Sovietism (which the Soviets called socialism, we called communism, and is properly neither).

[Doc Randy]

Orwell was a socialist. Socialist =/= communist. This is an important distinction that gets elided far too often, especially in American political discourse. Just because Orwell was very much of the left doesn't mean Animal Farm was not a critique of Communism.

Though to be fair we must make careful distinction between socialism, democratic socialism, communism (as theorized by Marx), and Sovietism (which the Soviets called socialism, we called communism, and is properly neither).


I agree to some extent.

What I don't necessarily agree with is the comparison between capitalism and communism.

Why focus on communism (especially soviet-style communism)?

Why isn't the class comparing capitalism with socialism or democratic socialism?

Comparing a successful branch of capitalism (and their are many evil repressive branches and aspects) and comparing it with the worst failed example of collective economics seems to undermine the educational process.

Unless you can clearly educate the kids about the distinctions between socialism and communism, then you aren't educating so much as indoctrinating. The use of the CIA produced version of Animal Farm further emphasizes this.

The simple fact is that too many kids are taught that socialism=communism and are lead to believe that Orwell was against socialism.

When in fact, he once wrote:

"First I spent five years in an unsuitable profession (the Indian Imperial Police, in Burma), and then I underwent poverty and the sense of failure. This increased my natural hatred of authority and made me for the first time fully aware of the existence of the working classes, and the job in Burma had given me some understanding of the nature of imperialism: but these experiences were not enough to give me an accurate political orientation. Then came Hitler, the Spanish Civil War, etc.... The Spanish War and other events in 1936-37 turned the scale and thereafter I knew where I stood. Every line of serious work that I have written since 1936 has been written, directly or indirectly, against totalitarianism and for democratic socialism, as I understand it."

It irritates me that this aspect of Orwell is almost never taught in American public schools.

[Len Snark]

You could start by NOT having them play a game that exemplifies capitalism. This assignment essentially demonstrates that wealth begets wealth, resulting in a sharp divide between economic classes.

Many kids don't understand what capitalism is. I figure that you can't understand communism if you don't already understand what it is that they were rebelling against.

[Len Snark]

Shouldn't you be teaching how capitalism and socialism are different, and then explain how communism perverted the tenets of socialism?

In AP European History I do a big unit on the French Utopian Socialists and they generally seem to get it, but with Modern World History we worry more about communism than socialism. I explain that communism is socialism, perverted.

[Len Snark]

Most of the suggestions here are gross oversimplifications of communism designed to make the kids hate the concept. I'm no fan of communism myself, but it's Len's job to teach them to be able to think critically about communism, not just hate it outright.

I like all of your stuff that you threw out, but there's two big problems with it: the California standards for what I'm supposed to teach are heavily biased and do not encourage even-handedness with communism. The clear goal of grade 10's Social Science emphasis is "America Rocks and Democracy is King." I try to infuse as much free-thinking as possible, but an in-depth analysis of primary sources is just too much time to spend at the expense of the ton of stuff I am supposed to cover.

The other problem is, quite frankly, that students aren't really readers nowadays. There are certainly exceptions, but in a mainstream class I have kids who proudly boast they've never read a book outside of school. It's really difficult to use primary source readings, with their requirements to think critically about what the person is saying, how they are saying it, and the way they say it as a reflection of the time period. Most kids just want you to tell them what to write as an answer rather than to think. It's an awful problem and I do my best to combat it, but any advanced text for the kind of kids that I teach (again, the non-AP ones) is just too much.

[Len Snark]

To me, the best metaphor is also one of the most enduring among Communist writers: the basket. Imagine a basket where every member of a town puts the result of their labors. Anything you need you may take from the basket, the only requirement is that you work hard and put what you make back into it.

This is a very strong metaphor. I'm going to make a graphic of it in my powerpoint! Also: why aren't you Dr. Spaceman anymore?


I've used the Action Philosophers comic in my history class to teach the basic concepts of Karl Marx and communism and a role play like urs.

I love that Action Philosophers comic with Marx. That's a good idea!


I'm all for the Rocky IV suggestion actually.

I've always toyed with the idea of using Rocky IV--at least parts of it. It's very effective propaganda if nothing else.

[Len Snark]

Thank you to everyone who responded. I love lots of the ideas, especially Patrick J's and will be incorporating them into next year's curriculum. I might even guineau-pig a couple of the ideas onto my summer school kids.

[Olivier E.]

Show them this german movie "Good bye Lenin" it's the best german movie of the last years.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0301357/

East Germany, the year 1989: A young man protests against the regime. His mother watches the police arresting him and suffers a heart attack and falls into a coma. Some months later, the GDR does not exist anymore and the mother awakes. Since she has to avoid every excitement, the son tries to set up the GDR again for her in their flat. But the world has changed a lot.

[cweed4]

Unless you can clearly educate the kids about the distinctions between socialism and communism, then you aren't educating so much as indoctrinating.
I think that's pretty much a given with most curriculum in public schools. If little Johnny goes home and ask daddy, "What's so bad about socialism?", you can pretty much guarantee Len will be fired quicker than a teacher of evolution.

[cweed4]

Many kids don't understand what capitalism is
If that's the case then you might be up the proverbial creek.

The easiest way to sum up the concept of capitalism to kids today can be conveyed in one word: ebay.

[Patch]

Teach them about the US Government threat level chart.

1. Terrorist -> Ultimate Evil. We will destroy you and whatever country you live in. (Except Saudi Arabia)

2. Communist -> Less of an evil since 1990. We will tolerate you but be wary of your existence. (Unless we outsource our industry to your country because of cheap labor)

3. Hippies -> We can tolerate you individually but if a group of you gathers in a college somewhere, we just might shoot you in the face. (Goddamn right. Fuck hippies.)

4. Fags -> We will allow you to live but we will not give you rights because then all our kids will become fairies too and the lesbos will convert all women and god fearing straight men might have to start fucking horses.

Go Ash!
See what clarity you get with a little distance, guys?

[Len Snark]

I think that's pretty much a given with most curriculum in public schools. If little Johnny goes home and ask daddy, "What's so bad about socialism?", you can pretty much guarantee Len will be fired quicker than a teacher of evolution.

Given that I have a sign that says "HIPPIES USE BACK DOOR" that the kids see upon entering the room, I doubt I'm going to have much problem with this. I'm not exactly the sponsor of the Young Democrats.

[WillieLee]

What commie came up with that bag of candy experiment? The nature of the demonstration is slanted against the supposed example of capitalism.

You should all report for re-education at once.

[cweed4]

Unbelievably, I have to agree w/ WillieLee here. The bag of candy example only demonstrates the appeal of communism (equal distribution of wealth). It ignores the production side of the two economic philosophies and that is where capitalism has the advantage. A fair analysis of each system needs to examine both the input and the output aspects.