TheGodlessUtopian
3rd August 2012, 06:09
Admittedly this is one of Mr. Cannon’s shorter and more informative works (the full text of which can be found here (http://www.marxists.org/archive/cannon/works/1924/class.htm)). It is in itself layered much like a study guide. For this reason I would urge all comrades to read comrade’s Cannon’s piece for you before reading through the questions. This guide, below, is not as much as a guide as it is a set of questions to keep in mind. It is of my belief to use both in order to fully appreciate the original text.
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Q1: Why is proper functioning of the “educational apparatus” so important to the life of the Party?
A1: The amount and quality of educational work the party conducts among its own members is of vital importance because without a continuous regime of theory the Party will suffer ideological decay. According to James if one is to prevent the devaluation of revolutionary theory one promote study in a enthusiastic and fun manner so as to prevent sterility and loss of interest. To do this correctly means to connect educational sessions with the current struggles of the party.
Q2: When it is deemed necessary to have a study class in a given locale what must the study leader do?
A2: The comrade in charge of the study group must understand that his leadership is paramount to whether the group will survive or collapse. He must strictly create a study plan but not before searching out students (http://www.revleft.com/vb/#). Only after a sufficient number of students have been enrolled would it be prudent to set a time and date for the start of the course. This is done to ensure that there is a student base to educate (http://www.revleft.com/vb/#) and that no time is wasted on the part of the Party’s leadership.
Q3: What is the direction the Party’s Central Committee must take in regards to the study group leader and what attitude must the leader take in regards to his students?
A3: The central committee of the party which has ordered the study group, where such an event exists, must excuse the comrade who is leading the group from other Party duties. This is done to ensure that the study group leader is able to focus all of his attention towards his students and that other projects are not completed incorrectly. The attitude the study group leader must take in regards to his students is a disciplined route. He must not foster a mindset which allows comrades to drop in and attend segments of the study group. It must be stressed that comrades are to attend every night for the full class for the entire duration of the course.
Q4: What are the two methods of conducting a study class?
A4: The first method is the “lecture-question” method while the second is text discussion.
Q5: Describe the lecture-question method and how an instructor using this method should behave.
A5: Under the lecture-question method though it helps immensely if the leader has some skill in public speaking it is not a requisite. If the leader is, and should be, thoroughly familiar with the text the lack of experience in public speaking can be circumvented with minor training. When using this method the teacher assigns to the students portions of selective texts to read; sometime the portions are from within the texts themselves while other time they originate from other sources. At the start of each class the teacher is to initiate a question period in which he quizzes the students on certain aspects of the texts. This session lasts for about 30 minutes. After this quiz period is advisable to take a short recess. When the class comes together for the second time the teacher should end the night with an hour’s lecture on an important topic of the text. When using this method it is vital to keep discipline high and to ensure that off topic discussion is kept away.
Q6: Describe the text discussion method.
A6: The text discussion method is of good use to elementary classes who possess little knowledge of the subject (though the authority of the teacher must not be diminished in any amount from the lecture-question method). Using this method the teacher will ask each student to read a portion of the desired text and then to explain in his/her own words what the spoken sequence means. This is done in an ordered fashion. If the student fails to understand the passage then it is to be passed along to the next student and so on in this manner until someone accurately describes the concept. Using this method a class will be able to cover a chapter per night. Before each class begins the teacher should make an effort to recap the synopsis of the previous evening’s material so as to bring everyone up to pace.
Q7: How should a study leader group organize his/her class?
A7: Starting on time and not accommodating the whole to the few latecomers or stragglers, remaining on topic and avoiding discussion about exterior fragments which relate towards the text and being conducted in a business-like fashion each session, complete with roll call, is the manner in which a study group leader should conduct themselves and their class. If done correctly by the end of the course the students should walk away excited to learn more revolutionary theory.
~ ~ ~
Q1: Why is proper functioning of the “educational apparatus” so important to the life of the Party?
A1: The amount and quality of educational work the party conducts among its own members is of vital importance because without a continuous regime of theory the Party will suffer ideological decay. According to James if one is to prevent the devaluation of revolutionary theory one promote study in a enthusiastic and fun manner so as to prevent sterility and loss of interest. To do this correctly means to connect educational sessions with the current struggles of the party.
Q2: When it is deemed necessary to have a study class in a given locale what must the study leader do?
A2: The comrade in charge of the study group must understand that his leadership is paramount to whether the group will survive or collapse. He must strictly create a study plan but not before searching out students (http://www.revleft.com/vb/#). Only after a sufficient number of students have been enrolled would it be prudent to set a time and date for the start of the course. This is done to ensure that there is a student base to educate (http://www.revleft.com/vb/#) and that no time is wasted on the part of the Party’s leadership.
Q3: What is the direction the Party’s Central Committee must take in regards to the study group leader and what attitude must the leader take in regards to his students?
A3: The central committee of the party which has ordered the study group, where such an event exists, must excuse the comrade who is leading the group from other Party duties. This is done to ensure that the study group leader is able to focus all of his attention towards his students and that other projects are not completed incorrectly. The attitude the study group leader must take in regards to his students is a disciplined route. He must not foster a mindset which allows comrades to drop in and attend segments of the study group. It must be stressed that comrades are to attend every night for the full class for the entire duration of the course.
Q4: What are the two methods of conducting a study class?
A4: The first method is the “lecture-question” method while the second is text discussion.
Q5: Describe the lecture-question method and how an instructor using this method should behave.
A5: Under the lecture-question method though it helps immensely if the leader has some skill in public speaking it is not a requisite. If the leader is, and should be, thoroughly familiar with the text the lack of experience in public speaking can be circumvented with minor training. When using this method the teacher assigns to the students portions of selective texts to read; sometime the portions are from within the texts themselves while other time they originate from other sources. At the start of each class the teacher is to initiate a question period in which he quizzes the students on certain aspects of the texts. This session lasts for about 30 minutes. After this quiz period is advisable to take a short recess. When the class comes together for the second time the teacher should end the night with an hour’s lecture on an important topic of the text. When using this method it is vital to keep discipline high and to ensure that off topic discussion is kept away.
Q6: Describe the text discussion method.
A6: The text discussion method is of good use to elementary classes who possess little knowledge of the subject (though the authority of the teacher must not be diminished in any amount from the lecture-question method). Using this method the teacher will ask each student to read a portion of the desired text and then to explain in his/her own words what the spoken sequence means. This is done in an ordered fashion. If the student fails to understand the passage then it is to be passed along to the next student and so on in this manner until someone accurately describes the concept. Using this method a class will be able to cover a chapter per night. Before each class begins the teacher should make an effort to recap the synopsis of the previous evening’s material so as to bring everyone up to pace.
Q7: How should a study leader group organize his/her class?
A7: Starting on time and not accommodating the whole to the few latecomers or stragglers, remaining on topic and avoiding discussion about exterior fragments which relate towards the text and being conducted in a business-like fashion each session, complete with roll call, is the manner in which a study group leader should conduct themselves and their class. If done correctly by the end of the course the students should walk away excited to learn more revolutionary theory.