Eduction in Socialism

[Victoire]

Does any of you has a vision how education will be in a socialist/communist society? I don't think Marx had any theories on that, so I am curious how you "experts" think about it.

Personally I went to a highschool wich is, at least I think is, quit close to what education will look in a socialist/communist society. The school's "constitution" guarenteed equality between teachers and pupils. To emphasise this all pupils where called "werkers" (workers) and all teachers where called "medewerkers" (co-workers). It was accepted, and even encouraged, that workers and co-workers would call eachother by their first name. Their where several "werkersraden" (Workers' councils) made up enterily of pupils. They have considerable amount of influence (I was chairman in my last year) In fact, the school wasn't called a school but a "kindergemeenschap" (children's Society). Although it sounds more revolutionary then it is in practice, it is still in my vision the perfect basis for a socialist school.

Ow yeah, the school ofcourse was called the "de Werkplaats" (the Workshop) and had the motto "A school that works".

[Herman]

Personally I went to a highschool wich is, at least I think is, quit close to what education will look in a socialist/communist society. The school's "constitution" guarenteed equality between teachers and pupils. To emphasise this all pupils where called "werkers" (workers) and all teachers where called "medewerkers" (co-workers). It was accepted, and even encouraged, that workers and co-workers would call eachother by their first name. Their where several "werkersraden" (Workers' councils) made up enterily of pupils. They have considerable amount of influence (I was chairman in my last year) In fact, the school wasn't called a school but a "kindergemeenschap" (children's Society). Although it sounds more revolutionary then it is in practice, it is still in my vision the perfect basis for a socialist school.

Ow yeah, the school ofcourse was called the "de Werkplaats" (the Workshop) and had the motto "A school that works".

That's one hell of a school you've been in. Wish my old highschool was the same.

[proleterian fist]

In a socialist regime,everbody is going to have same conditions at education.
I mean private schools will be abolished and state will afford every pupil's education costs.
Let me give you an instant from Turkey,I live in Turkey and there are private universities here more than state universities that is a disaster isn't it?
This means nothing but rich will be educated and poor will be uneducated.That's a shame!
and thank you very much for this meaningful subject Victoire comrade.

[UndergroundConnexion]

My School was different.
You had "student councils " , bascially wankers having no influence but organizing vile parties.

Then no first name calling with teachers of course.

What I disliked the most is that we had to do (choose) subjects which innevitable we would forget about in a later stage (like physics etc.... i study politics now ..)

History class was the finest although not that much room for personal thoughts.

[Bright Banana Beard]

This is what I thought

Call the teacher their first name.

Teacher and student are both researcher.

Free education for all, no age limit.

School should open according to their desirement so we don't have to sleep early.

No homework ever.

Remove the so call "block" or "period". The class time should function as long they need it.

Everyone have the right to leave or to reenter the school.

If the researcher want to learn more, they can.

Allow the researcher to open at night if they wish to.

Every school should have latest technology and allow 411 to communicate with other researcher in different place.

Researcher are allowed to sleepover at the teacher house and vice versa as long there are agreement.

Uniform should be in every clothes category so we have t-shirt with jean and polo shirt with khaka pant but those two shirt show the school logo.

There much more because personally, it is very important for teacher and student to have a relationship, this helps destory the loniless or boring section.

[Red_or_Dead]

Wish my school was the same. The only influence that students have is in the making of the school magazine, wich no one reads anyway.

Ok, to put my two cents in: school in socialism/communism should be:

1. NOT private. Not one. All people MUST be allowed the same acces to education.

2. I personaly think that far too much time is being spend today on learning crap. Schools today are breeding ground for nationalism and promoting the ideas of parliamentary democracy. I think that instead of learning on how your nation is the biggest and the best, that time would be much better spend learning usefull things. I think that foreign languages are one of those things. Instead of having one or two, why not having three or four? Thats just an example, of course, there are many more things that imo would be better to learn than what we are learning now.

[Kitskits]

Socialist education should not be around what sounds more sweet, "Comrade sir, dear worker" whatever.

Socialist education should be around Marx's teachings and a correct political economy (Marxian) and a correct philosophy (Materialism).

[Winter]

I for one think we would need a completely different method for indoctrinating children. Instead of teaching them to compete amongst there peers they must be taught to cooperate and give back to the community according to there abilities.

Schools should also focus on teaching these abilities to the students, causing them to be more capable to contribute to society.

[RainingSkies]

My previous school was very strict with tight discipline. Even those commiting minor disciplinary acts were not given a chance. All the time, the teachers expect us to do 'this and that'. Every time you walk in the school, you can feel like you're been watched by someone. Luckily, the new school I'm currently in is very more open. Students have an equal say and able to organize something without any teachers or the school interfering.

[Winter]

My previous school was very strict with tight discipline. Even those commiting minor disciplinary acts were not given a chance. All the time, the teachers expect us to do 'this and that'. Every time you walk in the school, you can feel like you're been watched by someone. Luckily, the new school I'm currently in is very more open. Students have an equal say and able to organize something without any teachers or the school interfering.

I'm glad I'm out of school. The city's going to put drug sniffing dogs in every high school! All these schools are going to turn into mini-police states. Scary.

[Red_or_Dead]

Socialist education should not be around what sounds more sweet, "Comrade sir, dear worker" whatever.

Socialist education should be around Marx's teachings and a correct political economy (Marxian) and a correct philosophy (Materialism).


I agree. Back in Yugoslavia, our high schools had a special class called "Self managment with foundations of Marxism", and I have a textbook that was used for that class. Although not exactly what it should be in my opinion, its still a good example of how marxism can be taught to young people. I think that classes like that should be a must in any socialist/communist education.

[INDK]

Well, I think most Leftists would agree education is a right to the willing and interested: not a commodity to be bought and sold.

It would be, inherently, optional. It would be free of charge based on the above premise. People would learn what they want to learn or are skilled at learning; allowing them to contribute to society in a way that pleases them. I'm sure many very skilled people could not get a job in the occupation they want because they can't afford the appropriate education.

With this, who would be a janitor or some other job most people would not enjoy? Well, simply, the lazy and those who opted out of an education. There will certainly be those who fit this criteria. In the workplace, there will be a recallable delegate and "boss" - there would still be regulation as to who works where.

This would ensure most people have jobs, and there would be a generally even distribution of who does what. Peoples talents would be best utilized this way.

[F9]

in which country is the school you went?

[INDK]

No homework ever.

What's wrong with homework?

[bezdomni]

The internets will eventually replace school in its entirety. Until then, I think the education system should encourage students to want to learn and to think for themselves.

Schools shouldn't fill kids up with facts that they don't care about, they should fill kids up with a passion for learning.

Education, by its nature, must be voluntary. You can't learn if you don't want to.

[gilhyle]

Look up Krupskaya's work on socialist education

[INDK]

SovietPants:

I doubt that all education will end up on the internet, though I certainly agree it should be an option. Based on the post I gave just before, this part in particular:


People would learn what they want to learn or are skilled at learning; allowing them to contribute to society in a way that pleases them.

Would this not put those who want to teach out of a job they may have passion for? And, personally, I'd rather learn my trade hands on, talking with another person; provided the education is secular and unbiased, which would come with revolution either way. Bottom line, people should be free to learn, and not learn, in any method or manner available to them.

[RainingSkies]

What's wrong with homework?

Found this from a website:


Every night from September to June homework invades the privacy of every home in America. It preempts every family activity and it interrupts meals, sports, and culture. It prevents family traditions and denies parents the opportunity to be parents and spouses. Homework is an equal opportunity destroyer, wrecking havoc on every family regardless of income, social status or ethnicity. And, there is no provision for parents or students to challenge, question, negotiate, appeal or arbitrate any aspect of homework.

Unfortunately, parents and teachers think that homework is important and necessary. Everyone believes that it helps their children academically as well as in the development of character. We assume that homework is carefully structured to challenge each child with detailed professional attention to the optimal development of his or her talents. We assume that teachers know exactly what our children need and we trust that they can bring it about through the medium of homework. The research, however, does not support these assumptions. Quite the contrary, the research suggests that homework reflects the quality of the home not the child. In sum, homework has little, if any value and is not worth the trade-off with family life and childhood being at stake. Homework takes away our freedoms.

Lol.

[bezdomni]

I doubt that all education will end up on the internet
If that's where all the information is...

[INDK]

RainingSkies:

Highly questionable. Homework's really just practicing skills you learn usually for only 40-80 minutes a day, (at least, that's how long periods were around here and some classes had double-periods) and it's perfectly useful for the advancement of a student's learning.

SovietPants:

Stuff like this (http://smarttech.com/), if it is true all information ends up on the internet at some point (though I think with this comment you ignore the existence of stuff like books), can combine hands-on teaching with technological education. I just think that children sitting at a computer 6 hours a day (assuming that time because that's how long school is) is impractical, especially for younger children that require direct guidance in their academics.

[RainingSkies]

Yeah I totally agree with you. I think we should encourage the students to do their homework, but not by forcing them to.

I found the piece of text from w ww.webspawner.com/users/nohomework/

[F9]

my school down here is a fascist school.goverment tries to make the childrens ethnicals and hate all of turkish people for a mistake from their country.they learn the childrens about another countrie(greece) and they triying to make them love it even if that countrie had made more mistakes than turkey on us!they are teaching history in the way they want with having as idols fascists and they force you to learn it!You are force to study christiany and make your pray every day!Also at ethnical celebrations if you dont go you get suspended !:star: