Sixth grade homework assignment: design a new socialist/communist flag

Sixth grade homework assignment: design a new socialist/communist flag

Remember the Sixth grade? I do. I was assigned to read Johnny Tremain. Set during the outbreak of the Revolutionary War, the novel taught kids about the Boston Tea Party, the British blockade of Boston, and Paul Revere’s ride. I remember thinking that, for something a teacher was forcing me to read, it was pretty good. That’s high praise from an 11-year-old. Times have changed. It looks like Tremain is out and socialism is in. Check out this assignment, given to 6th grade students in Austin Texas. Notice socialist/communist nations use symbolism on their flags representing various aspects of their economic system. Imagine a new socialist nation is creating a flag and you have been put in charge of creating a flag. Use symbolism to represent aspects of socialism/communism on your flag. What kind of symbolism/colors would you use? According to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, the activity caught the attention of the Texas legislature, which immediately began questioning just what the heck their kids are being taught.

“Members of the Senate Education Committee on Thursday grilled the creators of a curriculum system used across Texas that critics say promotes anti-American values and stifles classroom flexibility. “Committee Chairman Dan Patrick, R-Houston, called it ‘a mess.’ One witness compared the system to “mind control,” and an algebra teacher wept as he described quitting because he felt he was ‘aiding and abetting a crime’ by using CSCOPE in his classroom. “CSCOPE is an electronic curriculum management system that offers Web-based lesson plans and exams designed to help teachers adhere to state education requirements. It is used in 875 school districts—more than 70 percent of districts statewide—and is supposed to be flexible enough for teachers to alter content to meet their individual needs.

“A string of witnesses before the Senate Education Committee criticized the program for promoting liberal values they said are anti-Christian at best and openly socialist at worst. “They also complained that it is hard for non-teachers to get a look at the program.” Great. Texas kids are being subjected to a liberal, anti-Christian, computerized education system that parents have a hard time examining. Nothing creepy about that. Maybe, instead of making communist flags, kids might be better served learning, oh I don’t know ....math?