Being a public school teacher

[JRR883]

I am an anarchist (well, a novice, but I think I know enough about it to consider myself one), but my passion is music. I want to be a high school band director and teach my passion to another generation. My question is this: as I would be an employee of the state, an institution that I am obviously against, would my occupation make me a hypocrite? Would I unknowingly be an agent of oppression?

[Rawthentic]

No, of course not. When you are a teacher, try your best to teach your students some anarchist theory, dispell the lies about communism and such. The best example of a revolutionary, and anarchist, teacher is Noam Chomsky. So be a teacher.

[YSR]

Triple post FTW!

And absolutely no, I think it's not hypocritical. As anarchists, we're also against capital. Does that make it immoral to work for capitalists? Well, no, since that's impossible!

I've noticed there are a lot of liberals who love to call every anarchist with a job a hypocrite for "selling out." I like to point out the syndicalist argument: working gives knowledge and power over the economy, if only we work together to take that power away from the capitalists.

And has Hasta points out eloquently, you're in the perfect position to open the minds of youth. I myself have no real "career options" posited by my college major and will most likely end up being a teacher at some point. Teaching is a great way to allow other people to experience things they wouldn't otherwise know about. Experimental pedagogy is really subversive and cool.

[Rawthentic]

Sorry about the triple post, it was an accident.

Anyway, I dig what you say comrade, teaching is a great way to reach out to youth in need, I sure as hell wish I had revolutionary teachers. I read a book called Pedagogy of the Oppressed, by Paulo Freire. Its on liberation pedagogy, and how this can lead to a revolutionary consciousness and ultimately revolution. Its quite amazing and a recommended reading. But if you attempt this type of education which will teach students how to learn, instead of what to learn, you'll get lots of anti-capitalist kids which will then result with your being fired. Good Luck

P.S. There was a previous thread on this: HERE (http://www.revolutionaryleft.com/index.php?showtopic=55460)

[Exovedate]

The Educational System Was Designed to Keep Us Uneducated and Docile (http://www.thememoryhole.org/edu/school-mission.htm), so why not try to change the system from within. Instead of having those young impressionable minds locked into the capitalist ideal, show them the truth.

[Joby]

Just don't come too far out fo he closet. No Chomsky, Kraputkin or Riotous posters on the walls.

At least, if you like your job.

[Rawthentic]

Witnere, you cant make revolution by changing the system from within. Thats called reformism. But if you are a public school teacher even though its part of the system, you can offer a better alternative to your students.

[Exovedate]

I'm not saying you should be giving them God and the State or Das Kapital right off the bat. I'm just saying instead of pounding Catcher in the Rye and To Kill a Mockingbird into their heads a million times (not to say these aren't excellent books), you could introduce them to sources that will help them to actually learn. You don't need to convert them to a bunch of little Anarchists, just to show them that the left isn't full of the "godless communist" stereotype the Cappies would like them to fear.

[JRR883]

Thanks for the responses. If I can find some way to incorporate some anarchist/communist teachings into music, I sure will! But my first task will be to make sure they can play their instruments well. But if someone calls someone else a commie, you know I'll make them go into the back room and do scales for half an hour! =P

[Exovedate]

Witnere, you cant make revolution by changing the system from within. Thats called reformism. But if you are a public school teacher even though its part of the system, you can offer a better alternative to your students.
I'm not advocating starting a revolution through some type of brainwashing or anything, I am trying to offer a better alternative by suggesting you just try to work outside the box and show students there is more out there than just the capitalist society in which we live. Hell, when I was in elementary school, and even early on in high school I never thought there could be anything else but Capitalism (although I didn't even realize it was "Capitalism"). I wish I had had a teacher who had taught me there were other choices. Instead I just luckily, and accidentally, stumbed upon them with no help from my teachers.

[Rawthentic]

Cool then.