Alternatives on Socialist Education

[Paulappaul]

Recently I've been in the midst of forming a group in coalition with some Anarchists, Trotskyists and Syndicalists for the purposes of uniting our efforts at a centralized point, particularly in Solidarity with Wisconsin and in the form of a Flying Picket and Militant Direct Action. In rough sketch our organization is based around "solidarity groups" - groups corresponding to certain city sectors which are well trained and at all times callable to a certain picket/rally or Socialist get together that needs mass and defense against recent Fascists/Police attacks.

But, we also want to do an educational wing to this organization. I hate the ISO model of education though, where we all sit around and read books. I am looking for some alternatives to these traditional means of education.

[Property Is Robbery]

Public teaching forums. Just get someone who is knowledgeable enough and have them prepare a lesson. Provide some literature as well (probably best to do this online)

[Paulappaul]

What should be taught about? I am tired of Socialist Circle jerks, frankly. Alot of organisations idealize and masturbate to the heroism of Marx, Bakunin, Lenin, the CNT -FAI and Trotsky or in the old stories about how their organization organized X amount of people.

[Property Is Robbery]

Pan leftism and anti capitalism

[Thirsty Crow]

What should be taught about? I am tired of Socialist Circle jerks, frankly. Alot of organisations idealize and masturbate to the heroism of Marx, Bakunin, Lenin, the CNT -FAI and Trotsky or in the old stories about how their organization organized X amount of people.
I think that the best subject matter would be an introduction to global political economy. There are quite a few people, I imagine, who would like to understand what is going on around the world but are not supplied with necessary tools. That's where an educational "front" organized by socialists fits in perfectly.

[bricolage]

I think there is still a big role for history, and I don't mean stale tirades about 1917 or 1968 I mean history like 'did you know there were once workers living round the corner from here who did x y z and won?'. I mean I've got kinda obsessed with 1970s British history at the moment which on one hand could be seen as a weakness in that it is the country I live in and gives a narrow basis, but on the other hand it's hype reading about people who lived where I live doing what I do who just wouldn't take shit lying down.

there is a guy in london who does radical east end walks, I've never been on them but they are meant to be really good, here they are; http://www.eastendwalks.com/
maybe you could do something like this looking at places where workers struggles and the like took place near you?

[bricolage]

there is also films but they are more problematic, on the one hand they are more interesting than listening to professional revolutionaries chat shit, on the other hand they are very one directional and encourage more passive receivership than direct engagement. there can be discussion bits after but I'm still not sure.

[Paulappaul]

I think that the best subject matter would be an introduction to global political economy. There are quite a few people, I imagine, who would like to understand what is going on around the world but are not supplied with necessary tools. That's where an educational "front" organized by socialists fits in perfectly.

Suggestions on books please?



there is a guy in london who does radical east end walks, I've never been on them but they are meant to be really good, here they are; http://www.eastendwalks.com/ (http://www.anonym.to/?http://www.eastendwalks.com/)
maybe you could do something like this looking at places where workers struggles and the like took place near you?


Oh SHIT! This is great, exactly the type of stuff I was looking for. Thank you.


there is also films but they are more problematic, on the one hand they are more interesting than listening to professional revolutionaries chat shit, on the other hand they are very one directional and encourage more passive receivership than direct engagement. there can be discussion bits after but I'm still not sure.

I find lots of old folks always falling asleep during movies too :lol:

[gestalt]

What exactly are the learning objectives, what knowledge does the group want each of the respective members to gain?

As an educator who has done some propaganda work in various organizations, I can make some general prescripts about how we gain, retain and apply knowledge. People learn best when:

- actively engaged with the material or concept on multiple levels (e.g., retention leads to interpretation leads to formulation leads to application).
- work is done cooperatively in small (3-5 people), democratic groups.
- the objective is authentic or directly related to reality (e.g., learn by doing).

This is where authoritative, hierarchical modes of teaching like lectures which are based on received knowledge fall short. Moreover, they are not appealing to most workers.

Visits to sites of struggle, like those mentioned above, help to cement understanding. If your goal is to spread viable direct action techniques, the best recourse would be simulations and walkthroughs. If you are spreading concepts, create scenarios in which the groups must work as one using problem-solving and critical thinking skills. Socratic method (seminars) can be effective provided they do not break down along tendency lines.

These are just some general observations, give me some more insight on the overarching group goals and I can suggest some specific courses of action.

[blake 3:17]

Recently I've been in the midst of forming a group in coalition with some Anarchists, Trotskyists and Syndicalists for the purposes of uniting our efforts at a centralized point, particularly in Solidarity with Wisconsin and in the form of a Flying Picket and Militant Direct Action. In rough sketch our organization is based around "solidarity groups" - groups corresponding to certain city sectors which are well trained and at all times callable to a certain picket/rally or Socialist get together that needs mass and defense against recent Fascists/Police attacks.


I'd suggest reading & discussing Poor People's Movements by Piven and Cloward.

[Paulappaul]

This is where authoritative, hierarchical modes of teaching like lectures which are based on received knowledge fall short. Moreover, they are not appealing to most workers.

Yes, this is exactly what I am trying to avoid and what most organizations are doing right now in my local area.


What exactly are the learning objectives, what knowledge does the group want each of the respective members to gain?

We are a solidarity group, I guess a combination of History and Tactics would be the things we want to teach. In particular to history, modern movements devoid of Partyism/Thick - Ideology (Russian Revolution and Chinese Revolution)/Unionism.


- actively engaged with the material or concept on multiple levels (e.g., retention leads to interpretation leads to formulation leads to application).
- work is done cooperatively in small (3-5 people), democratic groups.
- the objective is authentic or directly related to reality (e.g., learn by doing).

So is it best to split people up into groups of discussion? Yes I defiantly would like some hands on stuff, "propaganda by deed".


Visits to sites of struggle, like those mentioned above, help to cement understanding. If your goal is to spread viable direct action techniques, the best recourse would be simulations and walkthroughs. If you are spreading concepts, create scenarios in which the groups must work as one using problem-solving and critical thinking skills. Socratic method (seminars) can be effective provided they do not break down along tendency lines.

This sounds very good.

[Die Neue Zeit]

But, we also want to do an educational wing to this organization. I hate the ISO model of education though, where we all sit around and read books. I am looking for some alternatives to these traditional means of education.

What about e-mail lists for papers, big attachments and such?

[Amphictyonis]

What should be taught about? I am tired of Socialist Circle jerks, frankly. Alot of organisations idealize and masturbate to the heroism of Marx, Bakunin, Lenin, the CNT -FAI and Trotsky or in the old stories about how their organization organized X amount of people.

I was watching a Christian preacher show (for some comic relief) where he was basically preaching to "the choir" and I had to wonder...if these Christian assholes are trying to "convert" as many people to Christianity as possible why do they spend so much time preaching to the choir?

At the end of the day the major problem is, not that many people actually know what socialism is. I mean, just look at this pathetic video:

rMqNL7sIhGs

Conservatives, liberals and everyone inbetween are simply clueless either by design, via apathy or in some cases they do understand socialism but are just shifty people and want nothing of it. There needs to be a mass movement but this will never happen until the masses understand socialism.

"It is difficult to get a man to understand something when his salary depends upon his not understanding it."
- Upton Sinclair-

It also doesn't help when those of us who do understand spend the majority of our time debating what it actually means to understand. It would be nice to have a simple basic message, a sort of "sales pitch" for mass consumption of socialist ideology. What I know for sure is the material conditions are ripe for socialist ideology to be accepted.

[Lenina Rosenweg]

What should be taught about? I am tired of Socialist Circle jerks, frankly. Alot of organisations idealize and masturbate to the heroism of Marx, Bakunin, Lenin, the CNT -FAI and Trotsky or in the old stories about how their organization organized X amount of people.

If you don't want to study theory and reread the Marxist and anarchist classics, why not study the tactics of successful worker's movements-from strikes to revolutions. "Teamster's Rebellion" by Farrell Dobbs, about the 1934 Teamsters strike in Minneapolis, might be a good place to start. Its admittedly from a Trotskyist perspective. 1934 saw a series of successful labor actions which the left led. The Auto-Lite strike led by AJ Muste's Worker's Party,the general strike in San Francisco, the West Coast dock worker's strike (in which the CP played a role) and many others. The US may (hopefully) be reaching the next 1934. Read accounts of these actions from different organizations.The IWW has an important history-what can we learn from it in terms of on the ground organizing? The BP was one of the most successful revolutionary organizations in US history. What did they get right and where did they go wrong?What strategies and methods of organizing seemed to work and what didn't? What can workers use today and what seems archaic? Assign people to do readings and discuss what they come up with. Compare and contrast.Only your group can decide what's the right or wrong answer.

[gestalt]

We are a solidarity group, I guess a combination of History and Tactics would be the things we want to teach. In particular to history, modern movements devoid of Partyism/Thick - Ideology (Russian Revolution and Chinese Revolution)/Unionism.

There are numerous sites devoted to education resources for labor history, like lesson plans and seminar questions, so many that I cannot begin to narrow them down. A Google search and a discerning eye is all you need.

As far as tactics, again there is much to be found. Others might disagree, but I find both Crimethinc's Recipes for Disaster (http://www.archive.org/details/RecipesForDisasterAnAnarchistCookbook), if you discount the dropping out suggestions, and LibCom's organizational tactics (http://libcom.org/organise) to be invaluable guides, demonstrative/teachable and relatively ideology-free.


So is it best to split people up into groups of discussion?

Small groups work best whether in discussion or problem solving assignments, followed by a general collective review. Make sure that groups are divided somewhat heterogeneously, with people of different talents together. Also try to be sure that there is no overt leadership role within the group (easier said than done).

[Paulappaul]

What about e-mail lists for papers, big attachments and such?

Alot of members are computer inept. I am sure when an educational groups starts, I will send such things though. Thanks.


Conservatives, liberals and everyone inbetween are simply clueless either by design, via apathy or in some cases they do understand socialism but are just shifty people and want nothing of it. There needs to be a mass movement but this will never happen until the masses understand socialism.
I disagree. You're banned?

[RED DAVE]

Don't neglect good movies. Films like "Bread and Roses," "Norma Rae" and "Salt of the Earth" are good for discussions.

RED DAVE

[ckaihatsu]

I was watching a Christian preacher show (for some comic relief) where he was basically preaching to "the choir" and I had to wonder...if these Christian assholes are trying to "convert" as many people to Christianity as possible why do they spend so much time preaching to the choir?

At the end of the day the major problem is, not that many people actually know what socialism is. I mean, just look at this pathetic video:

[YOUTUBE]


Typical smug status quo jibe at a fence-sitting liberal. It substitutes a Stalinist elitist stereotype for genuine mass self-liberated labor.

Note the terms 'workers control' and 'industrial production' were never mentioned in the video.





Conservatives, liberals and everyone inbetween are simply clueless either by design, via apathy or in some cases they do understand socialism but are just shifty people and want nothing of it. There needs to be a mass movement but this will never happen until the masses understand socialism.

"It is difficult to get a man to understand something when his salary depends upon his not understanding it."
- Upton Sinclair-

It also doesn't help when those of us who do understand spend the majority of our time debating what it actually means to understand.




It would be nice to have a simple basic message, a sort of "sales pitch" for mass consumption of socialist ideology. What I know for sure is the material conditions are ripe for socialist ideology to be accepted.


Got something in mind? And does it have to feature Nintendo Wii characters with computer-speech-synthesized voices?


= )

[black magick hustla]

the working class/communist "socialist education" consists of beer in pubs and discussion theres no othjer way

[Paulappaul]

the working class/communist "socialist education" consists of beer in pubs and discussion theres no othjer way

Yeah, I met a really dumb girl that way the other day after an organizational meeting where we hit the bar. She watched the Zeitgeist movies and it "changed her life". At least we get to drink.