New Commie group at my school.

[A.R.Amistad]

I am currently a junior in High School, and it has been a long time goal for me to start a chapter of Young Socialist Alliance chapter, preferably at my school. As some of you may have read on other threads, I am not very well liked at my school anymore, and my ideas, beliefs, etc. have a lot to do with that. Of course, the intense apathy and pessimism of my (dare I say reactionary) generation have blocked this goal as well. A acquaintance/friend of mine, though, showed interest in socialism and wanted to help me start a chapter. He claimed to know a great deal of people at my school who would be interested in a socialist organization. This seems promising at first, but several questions arise. First, my unpopularity (and I don't mean like at the prom) at school may be a serious problem. It's not like I go to a typically conservative school: in fact, we've been described as a sort of "hippie" school, but if I had to compare it to old time social groups I'd say they are more "yippie." My school is very petty-bourgeois liberal minded. People will be rebellious, but only to get street cred. The other question is about membership potential. My friend said he knew a lot of people interested, but of course they know very little about socialism. I plan on having a sort of Marxism-Leninism-Trotskyism workshop to answer any questions and explain the revolutionary program on a layman's basis. Do you think anyone here could help me with structuring such a class? Also, does anyone have any experience with organizing that they can share with me so my chapter will be successful? Any and all help is appreciated.

[Lolshevik]

You don't go to an alternative high school, do you? Organizing at those is practically impossible.

Otherwise though, you'll need the backing of at least one teacher to sponsor your club. If you can't find one, your chapter will have to be unofficial, if not underground.

[A.R.Amistad]

You don't go to an alternative high school, do you? Organizing at those is practically impossible.

Otherwise though, you'll need the backing of at least one teacher to sponsor your club. If you can't find one, your chapter will have to be unofficial, if not underground.


No, I go to a public high school. My problem is not really with the administration or the teachers. I have several teachers who are more than willing to sponsor my group. My school is pretty lenient when it comes to anything, so the staff shouldn't give us any trouble. But its the students who are going to be the biggest problem.

[Lolshevik]

Well, as long as it isn't an issue of physical violence, I'd say just try and shrug it off, get out there anyway and see who shows up interested in socialism. You never know what you may find. I know in my organizing here in Cedar Rapids I've occasionally been pleasantly surprised by actual responses that are much better than my (usually pessimistic) perspectives.

[thecoffeecake1]

Why are you asking strangers who likely have never even been to the town your from, about the kids at your school? and unless you live on the jersey shore, i cant help you either. Im a junior too, and I wanted to get some kind of group going, but I wouldn't expect people from potentially a different country to be able to accurately gauge support. if you can get 5 devoted members, great

[mykittyhasaboner]

As discouraging as this may sound, it will probably prove to be a waste of time, that is if it is anything like my experience with people from school (ahem, assholes) and politics. Then again if you manage to start something, and actually educate a few people, it may prove to be somewhat worth it. Just don't try and lose yourself and feel like crap because a bunch of kids at your school won't agree with you. That said, I wish I had the guts to start an organization at my old schools, even though they would have failed miserably without a doubt. So kudos for that.

[TheCultofAbeLincoln]

Sounds like fun. You don't need a large group, shit I'd have been happy in HS with one other socialist. Scatch that. One other fucking person who cared, even a Democrat. So I defintely know where you're coming from.

I'd say start it with you and your acquaintance if you could. I just think it would have been so cool if in my last years in High School we could have had on the daily announcements The first meeting of the Socialist Alliance chapter for this high school is Thursday in room A353. Refreshments will be available afterward for those who participate.

Ah, yes---- That's It!

Promise Cookies! Brownies! Donuts! Funnel Cakes! RC Cola because Coca-Cola is reactionary! Pastries! Ice-Cream!

Ever wonder how the BPP got off the ground? Two words: Hot Breakfast.

Damn I am a genius.

(Maybe not funnel cakes/ice-cream but the rest are definitely doable if you get my drift, probably not for much $.)

[mykittyhasaboner]

RC Cola because Coca-Cola is reactionary!:lol::lol::lol:

[Stranger Than Paradise]

That actually sounds really good to me. Good luck to you, you should probably start them off with some easy literature to read or come up with a presentation.

[Black Star]

I am a junior in High School too, so I can empathize with you wholeheartedly. Unlike you however, I would not call myself unpopular, but that is because I don't discuss politics with my fellow students. If I do, I speak vaguely. It's not ashamed to be a Communist, it's that I don't want to deal with the petty, immature reactions and multiple flawed arguments like "Did you know Communism killed 100,000,000,000,000 people?" Anyway, I would say go for it. You've already established your political beliefs, to the displeasure of some. But this group you'd make wouldn't be about them, would it? It would be about those who want to learn about and work for Communism. If the member isn't as active as you'd like it to be, you can just end the group. Nothing gained, but nothing lost either.

[StoneFrog]

From my experience with even just talking about such subjects is to avoid a few words:

-Marxist
-Communist
-Leninist

The reason for this is that people have been taught to be scared of such things. I mean i have had lengthy conversations about government ideologies, but as soon as the word communist comes up they seem to just shut down. Ever since the war on commies, people dont even want to look at that as a possibility. You need to first give them the information then give them the name of that school of thought. I have done this with Anarchism, most people just take Anarchism as bunch of kids running around causing chaos, but if you tell them about it before saying its Anarchism they can see it for what it truly is, and not what the media has made it out as. Most people only know the names, and dont know what the thinking behind it is.

[the last donut of the night]

Today I was called a "commie faggot". Just goes to show the wonder of American youth.:thumbup1:

[Black Star]

Makes me hopeful of the future.

:bored:

[amandevsingh]

Heh, I was called a "Commie Paki", which is a combination of two of the lamest insults ever. (Both are just short form for words which have no real malevolence in them)

[jake williams]

Hey.

I've been doing high school stuff for awhile and I have a lot I could say. First, people who say teenagers are idiots and not worth your time are coming from the same place who say workers are ignorant and racist and homophobic and not worth your time. You just need to suck it up and organize. There's an article I wrote that doesn't totally address what you're doing - I decided to go with a less specifically political group, but I'm not saying that's always the best or most productive choice - but still, I think it's good stuff to think about. Article here (http://rebelyouth-magazine.blogspot.com/2009/09/centennial-student-democracy.html).

[Invincible Summer]

I think it would be best to just start out talking about egalitarianism and democratic worker control and stuff like that. Maybe cover questions like: Why are workers exploited? What is exploitation? Why is it unfair for bourgeoisie to be exploiting the proletariat? etc. Don't mention "socialism," "communism," etc just yet

[h0m0revolutionary]

All this talk of denying your politics is a bit disconcerting.

Use the word Marxist, and mean it. If they disagree with you, have the arguments, if we don't propagandise our politics now when we're about as popular as the bubonic plauge, when do we?

[StoneFrog]

All this talk of denying your politics is a bit disconcerting.

Use the word Marxist, and mean it. If they disagree with you, have the arguments, if we don't propagandise our politics now when we're about as popular as the bubonic plauge, when do we?


I say if you get asked where do you stand say it, never lie about what you believe in. But when trying to deal with the caked on bull shit spread by the media you can't just run in with flags waving and guns blazing. Especially with youth, they are very quick to judge and hard to persuade different once the heels are dug in. You tell them the information then give them the name that goes with it, make them judge the meaning of the name not the name itself. I dont think its propaganda, what has to be done is to get through the capitalist propaganda.

[A.R.Amistad]

What happened to the rebellious nature of youth? Youth used to mean rebellion, no matter how misguided it could have been. Nowadays it seems rebellion is met with fear. The youth used to be fearless, now they have more fear than the adults.

Oh yeah, just to set the record straight, the group is already affiliated with Youth for Socialist Action, and everyone already knows I'm a communist, so the need to hide the name is irrelevant now.

I had hoped we could take the rebellious nature of youth and harness it into something positive, but I am now seeing that there is no rebellion to harness. All is just fear.

[Lolshevik]

Hey man, don't lose hope yet!

The donut suggestion posted on here is really good. It could very well be the sweetening factor, ahem, in the deal. And if no one shows, then... you get to keep all the donuts... it's a win / win.

(That's how it went with a Socialist Alternative forum last month. Only one guy showed, but he was very promising. AND we got to keep the cookies.)

[chegitz guevara]

Consider this a learning experience. Whether you succeed or not, you will gain valuable experience in learning how to organize, how to talk to people, and even how to understand your own politics when you think of alternative ways to explain it.

The single most important piece of advice I can give you is to listen to people. You are not engaging in discussion with them in order to defeat their arguments, but to teach them and to learn from them. People will have real concerns about your politics, and how you respond (as a dogmatic or as a revolutionary) will determine how they respond to you.

Keep in mind, you aren't just trying to build a chapter of SA or YSA. You are also teaching people what real communists are like. Even if they don't join, you may still have some influence on them later. The first communist I met didn't convince me, but I was open to the idea later on because of that experience.

[A.R.Amistad]

I think I can win them over with some of my beastly made coconut-fried chicken:laugh: Thats how I'm going to approach this. As purely a learning experience. In fact, I wouldn't want this group to get too serious because I will be graduating in a few years, and I would hate to start up a really good organization only to leave it two years after its birth and start from scratch. I am very knowledgeable (not to brag :rolleyes:) when it comes to anything about Marxism, history, theory, philosophy etc. but it would be nice if anybody could give me suggestions on how I should structure the Marxist workshop. Any ideas on where I should start? Besides the coconut chicken?......

[StoneFrog]

See if you can get some pamphlets or something to give them that they can take home to read. The written word is a very strong tool. Make sure to ask them questions get them into the conversation, and make them comfortable. All you do is give them the information, then you make them into revolutionaries :)

[Sam_b]

Should this be in Worker Struggles?

[jake williams]

Should this be in Worker Struggles?
I had the same thought, but you would be the one to actually ask :lol:

[A.R.Amistad]

where else would I put it?

[Cooler Reds Will Prevail]

Youth like to be entertained... I'd try to make some of your recruitment activities fun and interesting, not just putting up flyers and sitting there with a table. I just set up a group at my school and for building awareness of the club I think I'm going to get some audio equipment (just a mic and speakers) and have a faux-gameshow of some type where socialist ideas always beat capitalist ones. Maybe get one person to play a capitalist and one person to play a socialist and structure it like Jeopardy or something? I haven't thought it through all the way but you have to catch people's attention. If they're entertained, you may buy some extra time to convince them and open them up to the idea.

Oh yeah, and for the workshop... I'd recommend leaving out Leninism, Trotskyism, Maoism, etc. the first day... People first need to be introduced to the basic concepts of socialism/communism, and trying to tackle too much will likely leave them disoriented. Remember that talking about Lenin is opening a huge can of worms, because that leads you into a looooong conversation about the USSR, and straight into their preconceived notions. That is, in my opinion, better left until they are more friendly to the general ideas. Anyway, make sure it's a discussion and not a lecture, and perhaps try to incorporate a video into it somehow; i know on YouTube there are some videos on the basics of socialism.

.....And get cookies.

[amandevsingh]

Yeah, do what Socialist says, but be sure to jump on the table and tear off your shirt heroically beforehand. ;)

[A.R.Amistad]

Yeah, do what Socialist says, but be sure to jump on the table and tear off your shirt heroically beforehand. http://www.revleft.com/vb/../revleft/smilies/wink.gif

I'm ten miles ahead of ya comrade ;)

[amandevsingh]

Don't BS people; tell them straight up. Don't try games, etc. to try and explain it. We are educating people, not masturbating them. Plus I think the people who understand fully in this way will be much better then the others who play the game, but have no idea what it means. In addition, I think games would turn out waaaaaaay too cheesy.

[Rusty Shackleford]

think of simple examples of exploitation or flaws of capitalism. post them as questions. and then answer them at the meetings.

if no one shows up, other students will still have read them and begun thinking.


the idea of a workshop is good. try to cover socialism in general. party lines or tendency-dogmatism may bother other students if they disagree with them.

[PRC-UTE]

Moved to practice.

[PRC-UTE]

Consider this a learning experience. Whether you succeed or not, you will gain valuable experience in learning how to organize, how to talk to people, and even how to understand your own politics when you think of alternative ways to explain it.

The single most important piece of advice I can give you is to listen to people. You are not engaging in discussion with them in order to defeat their arguments, but to teach them and to learn from them. People will have real concerns about your politics, and how you respond (as a dogmatic or as a revolutionary) will determine how they respond to you.

Keep in mind, you aren't just trying to build a chapter of SA or YSA. You are also teaching people what real communists are like. Even if they don't join, you may still have some influence on them later. The first communist I met didn't convince me, but I was open to the idea later on because of that experience.

all of you comrades without organising experience, read this ^

[Pogue]

Argue from a realistic everday basis. I.e. talk to them as working class kids, etc, don't just launch in with how great you think the theories are.

[Omegared]

Ah, yes---- That's It!

Promise Cookies! Brownies! Donuts! Funnel Cakes! RC Cola because Coca-Cola is reactionary! Pastries! Ice-Cream!

Ever wonder how the BPP got off the ground? Two words: Hot Breakfast.

Damn I am a genius.

--LMAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Funny shit!!! The truth is the light!!!
---that's a tactic worth trying!!!

[A.R.Amistad]

Ah but I'm not a Stalinist :D

[Montag451]

Even tough people know you are a communist try avoiding those words because they are used today to discredit the ideas itself. That's why anarchism today has more political potential,it has some negative conotations in the broad public but not as near as communism.

Anyway i would suggest that you start with simply anti-capitalist rethorics. The crisis is an actuality and even the most apathetic people have heard of it and perhaps experienced a negative side of it.
Once you show them the flaws of capitalism,connected with their everyday life,some of them might get intersted and ask - but what's the alternative then?

Then you tell them what's the alternative. But try leaving words like communism out of it. Use euphemisms like direct democracy,worker's democracy,egalitarianism,socialism etc.
Actually these are the same things as communism,but don't tell them that until/if they agree with you that these are good things.

You probably heard that the far right is on somewhat of a rise in Europe.
Why? Because of rethorics.
They no longer talk of racial/national superiority,now they talk of racial/national identity.
Words are very very powerful.
People are generally more hostile to far right ideologies than far left,and if the far right has managed to reach to so many people by rephrasing(in their case hypocritical deceiving) then why shouldnt the far left?

Also, make references to pop culture. You said it was a hippieish school. There are plenty of popular leftwing bands and singers (you can even mention Green Day). Talk about them,their songs and ideas.
Reference to popular movies with connected subjects, like V for Vendetta.
In short,interest them through things in which they are already intersted.

If you are any good in photoshop, make stickers, placards. Use a flag.
You're young,just think of what would get you intersted in something you've heard of vaguely.

[A.R.Amistad]

I see where you are coming from, but I find that it is actually destructive to hide things like communism, communist symbolism, etc. because when you reveal what you are saying is communist later on, they repulse, no matter if they agree or not. I find that educating people on what they really are actually does work, and right now I'm only targeting the open of mind an heart. The ignorant ones will have to be swayed when our ideas are more widespread. I also want to at least start out with a group of actually dedicated revolutionaries, not just some people who I am constantly trying to convince. Also, not to create a political rift, but I am actually planning on teaching Marxism as an alternative against anarchism, but I understand why it seems more appealing. My party nationally has been doing a great job educating anarchist youth into Marxist revolutionaries.

Oh yes, good news. My reactionary high school principal, who has been tough on my left wing activities and groups, been constantly opposing my counter recruitment table, who allows the military to recruit on campus and who has generally turned a once intelligent school into a bunch of bullying, close minded, ruling class tools is going to resign this January :laugh:

[pastradamus]

Maye I missed something. But what exactly is the group called?

[Marxist]

Maybe it´s OT and spam , but i gotta little problem with recruitment , i´m the only youth communist in our city (100 000ppl and quite nationalist) , thought i know virtually hundreds of people and am quite popular , everybody i know is apolitical... What do to? Leaflets ? Stickers ?

[Chambered Word]

This is a really good idea. We could really build up the socialist movement in general if we all got something like this running at our high schools.

What I'd recommend is teaching them why right wing arguments are bullshit. Teach your peers about propaganda tricks the fascists use and how you can logically defeat the crap they parrot. Teach them to question everything and think for themselves rather than just teaching them whatever brand of socialist theory appeals to you.

[Gravedigger01]

I'm not telling you to hide your beliefs but try to sound more moderate if recruiting.You're Aerican , right?There are many negative cannotations regarding Communism in America so I'de recommend that you don't mention the Soviet Union or stuff like that if recruiting

When you have a group then you begin talking about Marxism or whatvever you want to talk about.This way they won't just run off thinking you some Commie nutjob.They will have to listen to our ideas.If they like them then you have a new Comrade if they don't then stab them while yelling "Take that Capitalist Swine"

[The Count]

I'm not telling you to hide your beliefs but try to sound more moderate if recruiting.

If they like them then you have a new Comrade if they don't then stab them while yelling "Take that Capitalist Swine"

Yes, murdering Capitalists is a great way to appear moderate :P.

I congratulate you on attempting to organize such a group. Our cause can only grow through organization and unification. As previously mentioned, be sure to make things entertaining! People learn much better when they both believe in the importance of the subject matter, and have fun learning about it. Keep us posted on your progress.

[Marxist]

Well , I´m Slovak and there is quite a problem with nazi/fascist/ultra-nationalist bastards and anti-communist propaganda everywhere...

[Delenda Carthago]

Cinema and music might be your helpers...:cool:

[ellipsis]

Fuck Highschool. It will be over be for you know it, and hopefully you will be wise enough not to dwell on it and just keep moving.