I am teaching a study group on the Manifesto at school

[Leftsolidarity]

I just started a study group on The Communist Manifesto at my highschool. I just cleared it with the administration, got a teacher, got a classroom, got about 10ish students eager to come learn. I'm really excited. I'm the main teacher at this study group but I have sort of an assistant teacher too. We have both read the manifesto about 6 times each and are well versed in it.

I have an rough outline in my head of how I plan to run this but I was wondering if anyone had any tips/comments/experiences with study groups or anything like that.

[GiantMonkeyMan]

I would say an important thing is not to immediately dismiss other people's ideas, especially as it is in the early stages of your group. Engage with people in discussion and attempt to educate them but never tell them they are out-right wrong. That way you prevent fallings out and encourage their development of a revolutionary thinking mind.

[The Idler]

Yeah, if you want to lose members fast, tell them they are wrong.

[xub3rn00dlex]

They might have a hard time understanding some of the terminology in the writing, so ask if they need clarification, explain it in easier terms, and diagrams always help

[Leftsolidarity]

I plan to have a big word bank of terms and concepts defined already to make it easier

[MustCrushCapitalism]

Very nice! Hopefully it won't be like teaching rocket science to 4 year olds.

[Art Vandelay]

I think perhaps it could be helpful to ask the class what they think communism is, then proceed to dispel the rumors and myths that are generally predominant in high school. I would think a good place to start is workplace democracy, kids think democracy is good so explaining communism is simply democratic control over the means of production would help. Maybe use an example of how your school would be run under communism? Sorry for the rant, just my .02$.

[ComradeNarwhal]

I congratulate you, sir. I think this is such a good thing for our cause. So many misconceptions about communism today..I am glad you will help clear it up :)
I think you should first make it very basic, and simplistic for them. Mainly outlining it and then dive into more in-depth discussion eventually. I do not know about your high school, but the high school I attended recently had no idea and was not at all politically conscious.
I wish you good luck.:D

[GiantMonkeyMan]

Make sure you tell us how it went as well. I'd be interested to know. :)

[IndependentCitizen]

I think the opening lesson should be a Q&A, so ask them what they think of when they hear the words socialism and communism. Then explain to them your take on them; in a non-formal way. This way you can try to open eyes rather than scream you're wrong.

[Leftsolidarity]

Make sure you tell us how it went as well. I'd be interested to know. :)

Will do

[Franz Fanonipants]

Comrade,

You've already addressed this point but I feel like it needs articulation at every step in the instruction/educational process. Make sure to scaffold the learning, you've already taken a right step by developing a word wall, but also look into things like helping your fellow students to develop a working pedagogy dealing with the Manifesto. Some suggestions I have, in addition to your really good word wall idea, is having students make frequent and regular small group discussion questions and working to integrate your material into other dimensions of instruction (especially writing).

If you need help on any of this, feel free to PM me.

[black magick hustla]

i've done similar things. except i organized a reading circle. i am not a big sucker of "lecturing" because my interpretation of marx and communism differs from other peoples'. i think political texts are not meant to be understood literally but to inspire discussion and thought.

Anyway the manifesto is actually a pretty bad document to start, I think. I think there are other more "updated" versions that raise more interesting questions. When I started my circle i suggested first "The Call" by the invisible committee, not because I am an insurrecto but because it is a modern communist manifesto of sorts, and it addresses more tangible things from today.

[Leftsolidarity]

i've done similar things. except i organized a reading circle. i am not a big sucker of "lecturing" because my interpretation of marx and communism differs from other peoples'. i think political texts are not meant to be understood literally but to inspire discussion and thought.

Anyway the manifesto is actually a pretty bad document to start, I think. I think there are other more "updated" versions that raise more interesting questions. When I started my circle i suggested first "The Call" by the invisible committee, not because I am an insurrecto but because it is a modern communist manifesto of sorts, and it addresses more tangible things from today.

Well it is a more known book, I am confident in helping kids read it, and it covers the main bases of communist thinking.

This isn't going to really be a lecture. We're all going to be reading it then after a little bit we will re-view what we read and I will help the others understand it better by helping them out with the words and giving it modern day context. I want them to form their own opinions on it but I don't want them to be completely lost and not understand what they are reading. If they don't become communists after this that is okay. I want them to know what it really is though.

[Desperado]

Historical context, and context within Marx's wider (and varying) thought, and later varying interpretations, is key.

[Leftsolidarity]

I'm trying to write up a short (sentence or 2) summary of each stage of society. I have descriptions for capitalism, socialism, communism, primitive communism, and a very bad one of feudalism. Could someone help me out with "slave society"?

[Art Vandelay]

Slave society was a period of historical and societal development where the primary class antagonism was between slaves and their owners. Spreading across centuries and many different cultures, slave society had the characteristics of human beings as a form of property.

Also I would suggest starting out with the Principles of Communism before the manifesto. It is shorter and a little easier to understand.

[ColonelCossack]

i think political texts are not meant to be understood literally but to inspire discussion and thought. .

no offense, but... erm... da fok?

Sorry, but I disagree. The manifesto was a pamphlet with a definite message, it has a clear cut meaning, and is quite specific...

In a way I suppose you're right, political tracts should indeed inspire discussion and thought... but I think Marx and Engles meant what they wrote in quite literal ways- communists do want a revolution, and we do want to abolish private property, etc.

Except for the metaphors, of course. Communism isn't a real spectre in the literal sense of the word, and nor were proles- to the best of my knowledge- shackled by literal chains. :p

[The Douche]

I've done reading groups before and my suggestion is to go through the document, understand it, and identify key elements that you want people to walk away with.

Then go through it and note those key elements, and make a list of questions based on those key elements.

Give everybody that list of questions and let them answer them. Then when you get back together everybody can share their answers and what parts of the text led them to the answers.

It sparks discussion because people interpret the text in different ways, it also helps to guide the reading as the reader knows specific things they're supposed to learn from the document, instead of just reading words on a page.


If you'd like I can send you a copy of a short text/the question sheet I used.

[Leftsolidarity]

I've done reading groups before and my suggestion is to go through the document, understand it, and identify key elements that you want people to walk away with.

Then go through it and note those key elements, and make a list of questions based on those key elements.

Give everybody that list of questions and let them answer them. Then when you get back together everybody can share their answers and what parts of the text led them to the answers.

It sparks discussion because people interpret the text in different ways, it also helps to guide the reading as the reader knows specific things they're supposed to learn from the document, instead of just reading words on a page.


If you'd like I can send you a copy of a short text/the question sheet I used.

Great idea, I'd like that.

[Leftsolidarity]

I just read through the Manifesto again and this is the word bank and help sheet that I have written up. Any comments/tips/critics about it?



Classes:
Bourgeoisie (noun): Capitalists, Property owners, the ruling class
Bourgeois (adj.): Something or someone having the characteristics of the Bourgeoisie
Petty Bourgeoisie (noun): Small business owners, employ a small amount of workers and usually workers with them. In a constant state of movement because of either growing and becoming part of the Bourgeoisie or falling and becoming part of the working class.
Petty Bourgeois (adj.): Something or someone having the characteristics of the petite bourgeoisie.
Proletariat (noun): Working class, oppressed class. Sells their labor to Bourgeoisie for a wage. Does not own any private property and does not own the products they produce.
Peasants (noun): Semi-oppressed class. Peasants sell their products, not their labor power. They own means of production, although it can be from leasing from a landlord, but the products, that the peasant produces, is his, and the landlord often claims a rent, in form of payment or labor on the landlord´s own land.
Terms:
Private property: Private ownership of means of production/property that gives profit to owner. Examples: Corporate ownership, share ownership, land ownership, slave ownership
Personal property: Different from private property. Not productive property. Examples: clothes, phones, your personal belongings.
Historical materialism: Looking at society as fundamentally determined by the material conditions at that time. Historical materialism looks for the causes of developments and changes in human society in the means by which humans collectively produce the necessities of life. The non-economic features of a society (e.g. social classes, political structures, ideologies) are seen as being an outgrowth of its economic activity.
Class war/struggle: The struggle/competition between opposing classes.
Class antagonisms: “The condition of being an opposing principle, force, or factor.” (thefreedictionary.com) The opposing interests of classes.
Reactionaries: Those who want to return to a previous state in society.
Stages of society:
Primitive communism -> Slave society -> Feudalism -> Capitalism -> Socialism -> Communism
Primitive communism: First stage of society. Hunter-gatherer tribes. No state, no private property, no classes, tools are held in common, no surplus and what was gathered was shared. Transition to agricultural society caused an end to primitive communism and lead to the formation of classes.
Slave society: Slave owners are the ruling class. Slaves are oppressed class. When it collapsed, nobility took the place of slave owners and slaves became serfs.
Feudalism: Nobility is the ruling class. Bourgeoisie/serfs are the lower/oppressed class.
Capitalism: “Individual” ownership over the means of production. Bourgeoisie is the ruling class. What we currently live in.
Socialism: State/Worker ownership over the means of production. Proletariat is the ruling class. Transitional stage to communism.
Communism: Everyone controls the means of production. There is no more classes. Classless and stateless society.

[thriller]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but did Marx say in the Manifesto that socialism is the transition stage between capitalism and communism? I don't remember that. Other than that, fucking awesome! Really cool that you are doing this. I prefer group discussion where people just talk about their interpretations of the text, which sounds like what you are doing. I also think it's great you are taking the ACTUAL text of the Manifesto and discussing it with others. Not some dissected, interpreted text that has long drawn out "clarifications" by other people. Primary sources are where it's at, and by learning the ACTUAL text, one is able to understand it better than if they had some bourgeois author hold their hand and tell them what they want them to learn from the text.

[Binh]

I have an rough outline in my head of how I plan to run this but I was wondering if anyone had any tips/comments/experiences with study groups or anything like that.

What is your outline? It is hard to make suggestions without knowing what is going on.

[Leftsolidarity]

Going to start by giving out a sheet with the stuff I posted 2 comments up and then go through those for a bit. I then want to start reading the book going about a paragraph or 2 (pretty much every main point) at a time then stopping to ask if there are questions and quickly explain it to clear things up. Then basically continue to precede like that.

[Binh]

Sounds good. How far do you expect to get by reading the entire thing together and discussing it? It's a very thorough approach but also time-consuming.

[Hit The North]

Looks like you're going to conduct a thorough and engaging study group. Wish I could be there!

My suggestion would be that before you do anything, you should set the historical context of the text with reference to short biographies of the two authors and the wider political events that inspired the writing of the pamphlet, as well as their motives for writing it. After that, your excellent help sheet would help to increase their knowledge of Marx's and Engels' ideas. After that, they'll be prepared to read the Manifesto.

[Thirsty Crow]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but did Marx say in the Manifesto that socialism is the transition stage between capitalism and communism? I don't remember that.
Of course you don't remember that because nowhere in his writings did ol' Karl pose such an argument.

[Leftsolidarity]

Of course you don't remember that because nowhere in his writings did ol' Karl pose such an argument.

I'll bring that up and talk about why I put that in.

[Leftsolidarity]

Sounds good. How far do you expect to get by reading the entire thing together and discussing it? It's a very thorough approach but also time-consuming.

That's the only thing that I don't have figured out. We will be meeting once a week or once every other week and I'm not sure how far we will get each meeting.

I feel like the first meeting we won't get very far but after everyone learns those terms and gets more used to the writing style that it can move a long faster.

[Leftsolidarity]

Just got back from our first meeting a bit ago. It went great! We made it half way through the first chapter at this meeting and they are really understanding it. I'm finding myself a lot better at speaking and explaining than I was expecting and it's making things go REALLY smoothly. Having the list of terms helped SOOOOOOOOO much. I think we probably would have spent the entire time talking about those terms if I hadn't made that sheet.

Very stoked about this group :thumbup1: