I posted this link in another thread about ownership of imaginary elements in RPGs that made me think of it, but I figured it should probably be posted here for more general comment:

http://www.rethinkingschools.org/archive/21_02/lego212.shtml

So, they were trying to teach kids socialism via Legos?

 How weird.

- E.W.C.

I am profoundly disturbed by that... all of that.  While I'm having a hard time articulating why, I would say that I think all the teachers involved should be kept far far away from children everywhere.

The weird thing was, as I was reading I'd go 'ouch, bad' then read reasoning and nod along going 'yeah, okay, that's cool...' then I realize what I was agreeing with.

I felt like I was someone in the 40k universe being tempted by chaos....:eek:

If my kid was in that school he'd have been out so fast the vacuum he left behind would have sounded like thunder when it imploded.

-clash

Those little kids built an entire civilization on their own and the teachers shut it down because it was too much like real life?

Holy fucking shit.  Do they breath oxygen on that planet?

Quote from: fonkaygarryThose little kids built an entire civilization on their own and the teachers shut it down because it was too much like real life?

Holy fucking shit.  Do they breath oxygen on that planet?

Sadly, Fonkay, this is Seattle we are talking about. They don't breath oxygen, they breath the fumes of their own insanity there. I know... I've been there, I've met the Seattlites.  They say they come in peace but I am very very afraid...

Quote from: SpikeSadly, Fonkay, this is Seattle we are talking about.

For those who haven't already read this article, some more insight on the area and WotC here.

Quote from: John MorrowFor those who haven't already read this article, some more insight on the area and WotC here.

This article is the gift that keeps on giving

Regards,
David R

Let us not forget that this is the same region that spawned Blue Rose. Not an exact geographic matchup, but close enough for orbital strikes.....

What's interesting about these communist teachers is that they didn't consider themselves as part of the experiment. And of course they were.

While discussing power and ownership, they failed to mention that the teachers had all the power, and the teachers had ownership of the legos. When left to themselves, the kids created a capitalist, class-based society. Only when the teachers asserted their power - "you can't exclude that kid, you can't hog all the pieces" - and when the teachers took control of the means of production (seizing legos) were they able to alter the social structure and make it "collectivist."

Marx's communism said that a communist state would naturally arise when capitalism collapsed from its own contradictions; the people would grab power for themselves and distribute everything fairly. Lenin decided he wouldn't wait for that, and that before the people could take control of the means of production, Lenin himself had to control everything, so he could redistribute it fairly. Of course really in the end he kept everything.

The children don't have a true collectivist society if the teachers can take their lego from them, or decide who has which bits of lego. True communism is not possible unless the workers control the means of production. If a priviliged elite control it, then it's not communism, it's Leninism, even worse than Tsarism.

I think what really offended the teachers was that some of the kids were asserting control of things, subverting the power and ownership of the teachers.

Quote from: SpikeThe weird thing was, as I was reading I'd go 'ouch, bad' then read reasoning and nod along going 'yeah, okay, that's cool...' then I realize what I was agreeing with.

And what is that?  :confused:

Man, screw you guys. >.>

Quote from: JimBobOzWhile discussing power and ownership, they failed to mention that the teachers had all the power, and the teachers had ownership of the legos. When left to themselves, the kids created a capitalist, class-based society. Only when the teachers asserted their power - "you can't exclude that kid, you can't hog all the pieces" - and when the teachers took control of the means of production (seizing legos) were they able to alter the social structure and make it "collectivist."

Correct, which made it particularly ironic when they talk about democracy near the end of the article, as if the kids had free say in what happened.

Quote from: John MorrowCorrect, which made it particularly ironic when they talk about democracy near the end of the article, as if the kids had free say in what happened.

There needs to be some saying like, "communism takes capitalism's wealth pyramid and turns it into a needle tower in a swamp." Only snappier.

Quote from: flyingmiceIf my kid was in that school he'd have been out so fast the vacuum he left behind would have sounded like thunder when it imploded.

-clash

While I find your sentiment admirable, I must caution you that children;s bodies can only withstand a few G's safely, so what you might like to do could be harmful.