Communism In the Classroom

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Communism In the Classroom

• TAH/TUSD Grant Seminar
• Katrina Jagodinsky

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So, What Is It?

• Take a minute to write your own definition of
  COMMUNISM
• Have you heard of it on the news?
• Maybe on a TV show?

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Breaking Down the Word

• Commun--ism
• Commune cooperative community
• Ism ideology

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Words Associated with Communism

• Proletariat
• Bourgeoisie
• Means of Production
• Reds
• Pinkos

• Fat Cats
• Working Class
• Ruling Class
• Labor
• Commies

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Biased Definitions

• Communism subjects the individual to arrest
  without lawful cause, punishment without trial,
  and forced labor as the chattel of the state.
• Harry Truman, 1949 Inauguration Speech

• From each according to his abilities to each
  according to his needs
• Karl Marx

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Neutral Ground

• Communism A theory advocating the elimination of
  private property
• Merriam-Webster Online
• Discuss Is communism a political or economic
  theory?

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But, Really, What Is It?

• Brain-Pop is the best middle-school level
  explanation Ive seen out there
• www.brainpop.com

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Commies vs. Fat Cats

• Results of the XII Party Congress of
  Cooperation, 1925
• Black White, 1933
• The Millionaire, 1963

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Protecting Freedom From Pinkos

• Make Mine Freedom, 1948
• Meet King Joe, 1949

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American Hysteria HUAC McCarthyism

• Simulate your own HUAC trials
• Teacher McCarthy
• 5 Students HUAC members
• 5 Students Character witnesses
• Remaining Students Defendants

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HUAC McCarthy Background

• HUAC, 1945-1975
• McCarthy, mouthpiece of anti-Communist sentiments
• Defendants artists, activists, intellectuals,
  high-security access, marginalized Americans

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Defendants
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Character Witnesses

• Church Lady
• YMCA Director
• School Teacher
• Babysitter
• Co-worker
• Indicted Communist

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McCarthy

• Main Job is to spread paranoia and cast suspicion
  on all defendants through stump speeches at
  beginning and end of class
• You should also goad HUAC members into being
  particularly tough on witnesses if they seem too
  soft
• Enemy From Within

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Are You Now, or Have You Ever Been?

• HUAC interrogators should look for these signs of
  Communist leanings
• Unemployment--current or former
• Intellectualism--library card
• Conspirators--passing notes
• Social Isolation--lunch table
• Rebelliousness--asking questions in class
• International Networks--lived in more than one
  house during their lifetime

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Verdict Sentencing

• Guilty Verdict
• Wear Red Stars
• Sit in Front of Class
• Report Whereabouts
• Read Notes Aloud

• Innocent Verdict
• Wear Gold Stars
• Sit Where They Want
• Report Others Faults
• Skip an Assignment

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But, What About the Cold War?

• General Resources
• Interactive Maps Timelines
• TUSD Lead Teacher Websites