Feb 3, 2012
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Jeff Travis owns a small business in Des Moines and he is absolutely furious at a classroom flier that his son received from his high school social studies teacher.
The flier, given to students at Roosevelt High School, features a cartoon and slogans that seem to promote communism over capitalism.
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“Communism stands for equal sharing of the work according to the benefits and the ability, but in capitalism an individual is responsible for his works and if he wants to raise the ladder,” the flier stated. “While the profit of any enterprise is equally shared by all in Communism, the profit in the capitalist structure belongs to the owner only.”
The cartoon represented capitalism by featuring an overweight businessman smoking a cigar while his workers were shackled. On the communism side, the cartoon showed happy workers earning loads of cash.
“I’m a businessman,” Travis told Fox News. “I took great offense. I don’t smoke big stogies. I don’t have a big gut. My employees are not shackled. If this was a fair representation, where is the fence around the workers on the communist side? Where is the guy holding a gun to their heads saying either comply or die? Where are the bodies that Stalin and Mao put in the graves.”
Travis said he spoke to the principal of the school and asked for an explanation. It’s been nearly a week and so far – he hasn’t received one.
“I couldn’t believe how slanted it was,” he said. “It wasn’t given as an example of propaganda. It was given as an example of capitalism and communism. I can’t believe they would hand out something like that.”
Travis showed the flier to a customer who happens to work at WHO Radio – a Fox News Radio affiliate. That customer gave the flier to Simon Conway, who hosts a local talk show.
“The flier seems to promote communism over capitalism,” Conway said. “We’re all horrified. We don’t want this stuff taught in our schools.”
A spokesperson for the school system confirmed the flier had been distributed in a classroom. However, additional questions were referred to another staff member – and so far – calls to that individual have not been returned.
However, school officials did post a statement on their website Friday afternoon, accusing WHO of misrepresenting the flier.
“It is unfortunate that a talk show host decided to mislead his listeners in order to generate false criticism of our schools and our teachers,” the statement read.
School officials also provided a link to what they said were additional documents given to students. However, the link was not activated – and a school official told Fox News that the web materials were not yet available.
As for the flier that students in the social studies class received, the school said:
“Furthermore, the class, 20th Century History, was studying the Cold War and propaganda, looking at some of the arguments both sides made about why their system was best on a range of topics, including their economies,” the statement read. “The handout simply highlights the differences between capitalism and communism, and some of the arguments made during the period of the Cold War.”
Conway said local residents are outraged.
“We ended up doing a full hour on this topic,” he said.
Travis said he never wanted to cause the school or the principal grief or frustration. He said he just wanted his questions answered.
“I’m concerned about the slant I keep seeing in the school and I’m tired of it,” he said.
Last year, Travis said an Occupy Wall Street protester was invited to speak to 12 and 13-year old children at his son’s middle school. When Travis found out, he asked to sit in the classroom.
“I was amazed they would allow someone like that to come in and talk to the students,” he said. “He came in and said how evil the military is and how he used to respect the police and how he doesn’t respect the police anymore.”
Travis said it no one was there to refute the Occupier’s allegations.
“I told the principal I thought it was pretty egregious that they would bring someone like that in but the principal didn’t think there was anything wrong with it,” he said.
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Communism, It worked well for Russia, East Berlin and China!
This is case and point for promoting home schooling. We home schooled our child, now a college grad, for reasons such as this.
Totally disgusting! And all with OUR tax dollars to boot.
I am tired of the military being used. If It weren't for our soldiers none of us including these scum would have freedom. Maybe we should bring back the draft but for both men and women and see how these OWS protestors like the view behind a gun barrel.
That is the way the nazi's started, brainwashing and demoralizing the youth.
This is why we removed our son from the public school system (which is considered to be #1 in the USA). He wasn't learning – he was being indoctrinated into a relativistic society where everything is ok, and it's bad to work hard, improve, and earn money for doing well. If you think this can't happen to you – my county is a "Red" county – this doesn't just happen in the blue…
its time to fire teachers too stupid to understand that indoctrinating other peoples children is wrong. we are forced to pat taxes and educate our children, to force poor people into letting their kids get communist ideals drilled into their heads in public schools is unAmerican.
Why is this so hard to believe? The teachers unions are nothing more than little communists associations. These tactics are exactly why there was such a ruckus raised about Obama having Van Jones as an integral part of his administration. This is a very good example of why private schools are leaping up all over this country. The teachers unions are refusing to teach American history in our public schools and are teaching socialism as a better way of life than capitlism. We can change this if we elect someone besides socialists in this next election.
I went to school decades ago, when they actually taught history. I clearly remember that it was Stalin who was chaining peasants to the factory machines, after he starved tens of millions of their fellow peasants to death. Mao is the World's most prolific killer in history. He killed tens of millions of his fellow Chinese during the long march program. Many more than Hitler and Stalin combined.
Teachers.. Ha! What do they know? Enough to not tell the whole story or enough to persuade someone who does not know to see it their way? Like the guys says, how about the millions that were killed under Communist regimes.
You got nailed or else you don't have a clue what is being taught in your own classes, either way you need to explain yourself and who is running the school system there?
Don't like it? Start your OWN business!
The uberleft socialist agenda is alive and well in the public school system! If you're conservative, God-fearing and prolife, you simply don't fit in as a teacher. Administration favors those with like, liberal agendas and often persecutes those who are conservative and think for themselves. I've seen administrators hire recruits who obviously share their ideologies, rather than hire more conservative candidates with far more experience. They know that person will go along with their agendas no matter what. It's disgusting and a travesty to treat our children's minds so callously!
The difference between communism and capitalism is under communism you have man exploiting man but under capitalism its vice versa.
I called today and spoke to some lady. She gave me the garbage that it was explaining about the Cold War. I told her #1 as adults we see it for what it is, bashing capitalism and #2 these kids are young, their minds are just developing and they may comprehend this differently. They are mpressionable because of their youth and the school is planting a seed on them.
I further explained that when our country goes down, the WHOLE WORLD GOES DOWN. Life, Liberty and the pursuit of happiness DOES NOT GUARANTEE that both she and I would get the "happiness we seek".
We went back and forth when she finally asked me if I wanted the principal to call me back, I said yes and she has not called.
Get ready people because it is happening… the road to communism is here and it MUST BE STOPPED.
Joanne Gomez – Really? Did you actually read the exercise? Because it was a lesson on the Cold War. You "adults" see it not for what it is but what you want it to be. If our country goes down the world will not end. It might suck for awhile but it'll come back just like it has after every other great empire that has fallen. Communism is not happening. Omg, are we in the 1950s again? Are we going to go on witch hunts for "Commies" and blacklist people who disagree by calling them "Communists?" Wow hope not.
So Kelly, have you followed up on this guy who taught this course? He was with the Commuists for America, what does that tell you?
Humans are designed to live within communes. We are not designed to be independent individuals. We are designed to work together. We are supposed to be interconnected parts in a much larger machine. We are not supposed to starve our brothers so a few among us can take skiing vacations and "own" useless possessions. Capitalism is killing our World. Beware, my brothers, speaking this truth is dangerous. And know that, although you may be attacked by humans for your beliefs, when you stand before God, know that your Earthly deeds will bring you Salvation.
This was just one lesson on one day – obviously the history of the Cold War goes beyond this one lesson. This was a simple analysis of the types of economies primarily involved: capitalism and communism. Other lessons about the Cold War will get into the track records of the Soviet Union, China, etc. when it comes to their human rights violations, repression of their people, etc. This is being blown WAY out of proportion. Unless you have looked at the entire curriculum for this course, please do not jump to conclusions that this one piece of paper (which was not posted in its entirety from the beginning, therefore misleading all of you to start) was given out to students with the lesson being "Communism is Good!" If you seriously believe that, then you need to lay off on the conspiracy theories. Teachers do not have nearly the academic freedom you all think they have. There are very clear lines for teachers when it comes to advocating certain viewpoints over others. Check out the Supreme Court cases related to this.
So their reply is, "You took this out of context." Okay. Show us the context. Do they really think we're so stupid that they can just say, "Oh, you misunderstood," and everyone will say, "Oh, we're sorry."
See my post from Megan Vanderflute or her post – it has the entire context.
These type of teachers are what is wrong with our public education system. This teacher should be fired. If the teacher loves communism so much, then move to North Korea.
Please read the following post that has a link of the ENTIRE exercise:
Megan Vanderflute · Des Moines, Iowa.
Please follow this link. It was activated very shortly after the message was posted by the school district. You'll see the assignment, in its entirety, with an example of student work. I think it is clear that the teacher tried to give the students the opportunity to consider the pros and cons of both communism and capitalism, in an attempt to actually TEACH them more about both. http://old.dmps.k12.ia.us/schools/3Roosevelt/Lesson.pdf
Another case of a teacher teaching what to think instead of how to think.
Liberal fascists are ALWAYS at work trying to indoctrinate and brain wash the American people. ALways be vigilant and on guard. Benefits of living my first 18 years in a police state (Romania), I have no problem spotting these ideologues but many Americans are too naive to recognize the first signs. Case in point: they voted for an incompetent socialist as president.
Kudos to Mr. Travis for standing up for what most of America
believes in and what this great country was founded on!
This would be illegal in California–if anyone would dare to prosecute it. Here's the relevant section of education code:
51530. No teacher giving instruction in any school, or on any.
property belonging to any agencies included in the public school.
system, shall advocate or teach communism with the intent to.
indoctrinate or to inculcate in the mind of any pupil a preference.
for communism.
In prohibiting the advocacy or teaching of communism with the.
intent of indoctrinating or inculcating a preference in the mind of.
any pupil for such doctrine, the Legislature does not intend to.
prevent the teaching of the facts about communism. Rather, the
Legislature intends to prevent the advocacy of, or inculcation and.
indoctrination into, communism as is hereinafter defined, for the.
purpose of undermining patriotism for, and the belief in, the.
government of the United States and of this state.
For the purposes of this section, communism is a political theory.
that the presently existing form of government of the United States.
or of this state should be changed, by force, violence, or other.
unconstitutional means, to a totalitarian dictatorship which is based.
on the principles of communism as expounded by Marx, Lenin, and.
Stalin.
Darren Miller – Except no one was advocating communism.
Over react much Mr. Travis and Mr. Conway? It is a history class that tries to show propaganda from both sides during the Cold War….Simon Conway is just another conservative talk show host looking for an issue that isn't there to get people to listen to his lame show….Mr. Travis sounds like a parent who should sit down and talk to his children's teachers more than rush to the right wing media to get his name in the news….it is beyond amazing that in this day and age we have an entire wing of our politics dominated by whack jobs who believe incredibly insane conspiracy theories….heaven forbid that a teacher sets up a class where students can learn to think for themselves and be critical consumers of media (wouldn't want that or people might start to question the big lies of FOX)…..settle down you maniacs with your 2nd Amendment comments…..I am very sure the 2nd Amendment was not put in place to threaten shooting people you disagree with….really classy of you to make such threats though….perhaps we should report you all to law enforcement since you are threatening gun violence towards a public school?
One additional point of clarification…the part about the middle school classroom visit by an Occupy protester is, once again, wrong on the facts. First of all, the Occupy Wall Street didn't exist a year ago! Second, while a person who had engaged in protesting in the past did speak to the class, the next week there was a speaker who addressed a different viewpoint: the chair of the Polk County GOP. I am very disappointed in Mr. Travis for skewing this for what appears to be his own 15 minutes of fame. Let's hope any other news outlet that picks this up actually adds the facts as they have been uncovered. This debacle has shown me the drawback to social media and the Internet: the ability for completely off-base stories to go viral before ever being fact-checked.
just read all that. can't believe some of those comments. crazy to think that people hate teachers and schools so much-especially with all those misspelled words that they were spewing!
Melissa Fischer Spencer – Thank you for clarifying that. I thought it seemed a little off.
Until those concerned about what is taught in schools start going to the school board meetings, you have nothing to say. Make the school board meetings and voice your opinion. Pay attention to who you are voting for on the school board. Don't like who is on the school board? Find someone you do like and support them.
By failing as citizens to do your duty, the communists (democrats) are laughing at you for making their plans come to life.
I grew up in former USSR. I could say a few words about communism and socialism, and what it REALLY means for people living in that “paradise”. I am convinced that anybody promoting that cruel, inhumane, and essentially form of slavery is either plain stupid or playing politics for power. Either way, having those kinds of people in our schools is a disaster!
Funny how I was just reflecting this morning on how people are only motivated when they get rewards for their hard work. To do otherwise like in Communism no one is motivated hence the downward spiral toward poverty. And it is indeed the bankrupt system of Communism that broke the Soviet Union's back. American Educators listen.
This is why good Christian people prefer to home school their children.
This is right out of the playbook of the NEA, of course they want socialism. Most teachers do not, but they don't have any say in it. Its the same as your big Unions all over the country. They use the fat cats on top routine in everthing, while the leadership of these orgs set back on their lazy fat butts and do nothing but submitt to every socialistic agenda item in the book. Pro-gay, pro-abortion, equal pay for all(or so they say, as long as they get more).
This is right out of the playbook of the NEA, of course they want socialism. Most teachers do not, but they don't have any say in it. Its the same as your big Unions all over the country. They use the fat cats on top routine in everthing, while the leadership of these orgs set back on their lazy fat butts and do nothing but submitt to every socialistic agenda item in the book. Pro-gay, pro-abortion, equal pay for all(or so they say, as long as they get more).
http://www.scribd.com/doc/76766853/Richard-Wurmbrand-Marx-and-Satan
Get your children away from this indoctrination. http://www.homeschools.org
There was no "indoctrination." Read the entire project.
As Neal Boortz has often eluded to, the most common child abuse is not physical, sexual or mental… it's sending your child to a government school. That is abuse done to every child in a government school.
Until parents start demanding more charter schools or vouchers as well as simply put up the money to put their child in private school, it will never change.
Dear hypocrites: I'm just enjoying seeing the love/hate relationship our country has with Communism. You say you don't like communism? Well, coulda' fooled me. You definitely don't dislike communism enough to stop buying goods from our second biggest trading partner (Surprise! A Communist country!).
So, before you point the finger at a school for "supporting communism over capitalism" via a stupid stick figure drawing, maybe you should look in the mirror, next time you get ready to drive down to an American store that sells the wares of communist, socialist, and fascist countries.
US Govt, BHO Admin, and All that work for BHO are communist pricks and need to be taken out permanently.
It is way to late that we can't round up traitors and terminate them from America; As soon as they consolidate power that is what they will do to Americans, Example every nation that went Communist.
has been Enslaved and MURDERED! But the up side of it all is the COMMUNIST will kill all of the free loaders A/S/A/P, THERE MOTTO IS ( wont work? Wont eat!) BANG!
Drugs? BANG! TREASON? BANG! NO TRIALS JUST BANG! IN THE BACK OF YOUR HEAD!
TERMITES! LEECHES! MAGGOTS! PARASITES! AND FREE LOADERS? BANG – BANG – BANG! GONE!