"Okay class, today we're going to watch a movie. It's about democracy and despotism."
"Rich, get that gum out of your mouth!"
"This film really goes with our next unit, but today was the only time I could book it from A-V. Anyway, I think you'll enjoy it and … it's relevant to current events."
"Alright, now, uh, I want you to pay attention and at the end of the film we'll have a discussion about what kind of community we live in…"
"Kevin, would you please turn out the lights. Okay Ceola, you can start the projector."
View today’s social studies movie here:
After you’ve watched the movie, rate your community on these four scales:
What sort of community do you live in? Is your community headed for democracy or does despotism stand a good chance?
Bonus Question:
How does your community train its teachers? Do you agree with the teacher educator in the movie who says:
“Young people cannot be trusted to form their own opinons. This business about openmindedness is nonsense. It’s a waste of time to try to teach students to think for themselves. It’s our job to tell ’em.”
Why? Or why not? (Please give examples to support your position.)
Remember what happens in your community matters for you and everyone else.
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Incredibly fascinating! There’s actually a lot of powerful critique in there as it pointedly assails racism, inequality, regressive taxation, economic control over the media, business concentration, corporate farming, etc. In the right hands, this really could be a useful teaching tool… (that is, once Rich stops chewing gum… I mean, who can think and chew gum at the same time?!)
Note: we can date this because the pledge does NOT include “under God” in it. Maybe real critique went down hill after they messed with the pledge. 🙂
The “under god” phrase was added to the pledge in 1954. So the movie if pre-54 at least.
When he signed the law that add the “under god” phrase, Eisenhower said: “From this day forward, the millions of our school children will daily proclaim in every city and town, every village and rural schoolhouse, the dedication of our Nation and our people to the Almighty.”