Socialist Club Updated

[Skammunist]

Hey all, some of you might remember that I made a thread on making a socialist club at my high school a few months ago. You can view the link here: http://www.revleft.com/vb/high-school-socialist-t153427/index.html
Despite my excitement about finally organizing with my peers, I've run into a bit of trouble with the school administrators. Obviously because of the very nature of the club, it was inevitably going to be controversial. Here is the full history of my efforts of forming a socialist club.

Back in April of this year, I decided to form a socialist club for the new school year, starting in August. I thought I would make it official a full five months before the start of club days so I would not run into any trouble in the new year. Before I even spoke with the administrators, I received my teacher's approval to be a club sponsor. So in late April/early May, I asked the principal for approval on forming the club. He half-assed me and told me to contact the vice principal. I then contacted the vice principal who told me to write a letter on why I wanted to make this type of club. I had a feeling that this was very informal, and I gave him the letter the next day. After school during a faculty meeting with all the teachers, he presumably read the letter to the teachers. How do I know this? The next day, two of my teachers told me they heard my proposal. Strange, considering I didn't disclose the letter to anybody but my club sponsor. In late May, I asked the vice principal for an update on the club. Again, not really caring, he said that we should worry about it when the new school year started.

Fast forward to the start of the school year, late August. I received no updates about the status of my club. Now before I explain my situation, you should know that there are two club days in a month (club day 1 & club day 2). For any club, that means that there is one club day a month, just that the clubs are divided into two different days. Today (Tuesday), was club day 1. I figured I would just have my club on club day 2, no problem. So I ask my vice principle (the one who originally required me to write a letter), as to the status of my club. He says to go see the OTHER vice principle, which I proceed to do. He tells me to see the previous vice principle if the club was approved or denied. I told him the other VP didn't say anything, so I now have to fill out a club request form.

The funny thing? I should have filled out a club request form FIVE MONTHS AGO, but I was required to write a stupid letter instead. So I am hoping to score a date for Tuesday (the 20th), no big deal right? Wrong. He tells me I have to start my club NEXT MONTH, because apparently, clubs on day two are full, so I have to have socialist club on day one, which was supposed to be today.

My question is, should I just suck it up and have it next month, or am I justified in feeling angry? I feel as if it is so much harder for me to organize this club than any other club. I can bet you guys that the other clubs had a WAY easier time with making their respective clubs. It shouldn't be this difficult. I am really hoping to fight this and score a date for next week. This has been prolonged for way too long and I can't afford to push it back. I bet the principals know that first days of club have the biggest attendance, so they are intentionally trying to push it back. What do you guys think, am I getting too worked up over this? I am pissed and am prepared to contact the school board about the constant delays.

[Revolutionair]

My question is, should I just suck it up and have it next month, or am I justified in feeling angry?

Both. They are obviously being assholes, but you shouldn't let that get to you.

[#FF0000]

Honestly I really wouldn't worry too much about a high school club like this. I mean what do you want to do with it, exactly?

[Skammunist]

Honestly I really wouldn't worry too much about a high school club like this. I mean what do you want to do with it, exactly?

I think you are underestimating the importance of the high school years in a teenager's political development. If we can foster the ideas of socialism into young people, they will carry that with them into their careers in the future. And if they don't understand it/embrace it, so what? An introduction to social justice is better than nothing. At the very least, they will remember their experience as a hopefully positive one. The idea of kids growing up with the conservative Tea Party influence isn't very a very good one for me.

I am planning to organize such activities as volunteering at homeless shelters and soup kitchens. I have considered tabling and passing out leaflets. At the same time, we will learn about why we have to do these things, such as help the poor and homeless, why do they exist in the first place? Is poverty a natural problem or is it rooted in the system? I am using the volunteer work as way to help others and as a pretext to socialist views on why poverty exists at all.

[Luc]

I suggest wating for the next time in the mean time, collect evidence or w/e to show if they lied about their reasons for saying you gotta wait i.e. they could say the gym or cafe (where ever you have it) didn't have space when it actually had plenty of space, you know.

If you have evidence that they are fucking you around (i.e. "not enough space", "didn't fill out sheet properly") then it'll make you case stronger with the board.

Maybe it'll make you look better too:thumbup1:

Assuming of course the board won't fuck you around like the vp:unsure:

p.s. great to hear you are carrying through with this, stay strong comrade!:hammersickle:

/solidarity

[#FF0000]

I think you are underestimating the importance of the high school years in a teenager's political development

I think you are overestimating what a high school "Socialist Club" but what you're talking about here actually sounds p. baller so don't let me discourage you

[The Idler]

Being a socialist isn't an easy ride. Authorities are going to obstruct you. Stay above board insofar as it helps the club but don't be afraid of taking opportunities. Students might respect you if you choose to sail close to the wind.

[TheGodlessUtopian]

When I get into a real college I plan on establishing a youth branch for my party.I think many young people seek this option for their organization so in my opinion high school can be a good starting area for which to gain experience.

[El Louton]

Sorry to use Blair but 'education, education, education'. Start them early comrades!

[Binh]

I had a similar experience when I tried to start a club at my college. A couple points/questions:

1) Where is your club sponsor in all this? Why did he/she tell you about the procedures or bother to help you find out?

2) Probably it was a mistake to call it a socialist club, at least publicly to the administration. A "political" club/debating society would've been better, less likely to attract unwanted attention/resistance.

3) Comandeer at club day, or, if that's not possible, go with a petition around an issue, or a name/phone number sign-up sheet and hand out literature/leaflets. Also, having some big posterboard signs would help, but you have to use some tactical judgment not to get shutdown quick. Can your sponsor table for you/with you?

4) Never ever let dealings with the authorities impede your political work; always find a way around them and have plans B and C. Post flyers in bathroom stalls if that's what it takes. I suggest starting an invite-only Facebook group (not with your real name or link to your real FB page!!) so you can get something going before you have formal status (if you ever get it).

[Skammunist]

So it looks like I am actually doing this thing after all. I just had to change the name, but I will be able to have a club meeting on Tuesday. It seems that the VP completely lied about there being not enough space. When I asked him again today, he said he could put me in any club day, 1 or 2. And this was BEFORE I said I would change the name. So I don't know if he was pissed off that day or what, but I'm happy. Oh, and I sent you a PM Binh.

[Q]

To what are you changing the name?

It sounds to me you're being put through a bureaucratic mill. This leads me to ask why are you putting all this effort into an officially recognised club? Communists prefer to work in bourgeois (or, in this case, highschool) legality, but if we must organise "underground", then we do.

So, why not find a free spot somewhere in the week and organise then, outside the official structures (strictures?).

[Skammunist]

Hi Q, I am changing the name probably to "Social Justice" club or something like that. Nothing will change though, just the name. And yes, that is exactly what I am being put through, a bureacratic mill. The reason I choose to make it very official rather than underground is that high school aged kids are very apathetic. If something requires extra work, they most likely will not put effort into it. Since they would otherwise sit in class and wait for club period to be over, having an official club gives them stimulus since they actually don't lose anything. In fact, they gain volunteer hours, so that is an extra incentive. I doubt I would have even 5 people join a club if it wasn't part of the school system. Almost none of the students at my school are very political.

[Property Is Robbery]

Good luck. Keep us updated comrade!

[Binh]

Social Justice was the name of the high school club I started. I did a fair amount of communist work in 2 years and even won some people to socialism along the way. :)

[TheGodlessUtopian]

Very inspiring stuff, refreshing to hear.

[Revolutionary_Marxist]

It's nice to see that you have an idea going, I remember you wanting to do this under my introduction post. Best of luck too you and your club.

[Spets]

Me and several of my high school friends made a club called Janitor Appreciation, because we felt that they where being over looked and we would help them out for about an hour or so after classes had ended. Maybe you guys could do something like that, because the janitors at at my High School worked from 5 in the morning until 9 in the evening.

[Ned Kelly]

Hi Q, I am changing the name probably to "Social Justice" club or something like that. Nothing will change though, just the name. And yes, that is exactly what I am being put through, a bureacratic mill. The reason I choose to make it very official rather than underground is that high school aged kids are very apathetic. If something requires extra work, they most likely will not put effort into it. Since they would otherwise sit in class and wait for club period to be over, having an official club gives them stimulus since they actually don't lose anything. In fact, they gain volunteer hours, so that is an extra incentive. I doubt I would have even 5 people join a club if it wasn't part of the school system. Almost none of the students at my school are very political.

Change the agenda along with the change of name; lets be realistic here, I'm not going to accuse you of liquidation over a slightly less than communist high school group. If you make it more of a broad-left sort of group, whilst actively promoting communist theory and pointing things out to those that you recruit, I think you'll find it more of a success than a straight up communist grouping.

Just some food for thought.

[Binh]

Me and several of my high school friends made a club called Janitor Appreciation, because we felt that they where being over looked and we would help them out for about an hour or so after classes had ended. Maybe you guys could do something like that, because the janitors at at my High School worked from 5 in the morning until 9 in the evening.

That's pretty cool. What did you guys do? Petition the administration? Were the janitors in a union?

[Misanthrope]

Good luck man! I'm trying to from a LGBT club, hopefully a leftist club in the future!

It's principal though btw... sorry to be a snobby prick.:wub: