[CONTEST] What Did You Learn In School Today?

[Dushina]

Issues Contest: Red October Edition
I've tried to best avoid this being an issue that could be applied to capitalist nations. I think while a generic schooling issue could be applied to all nations, the spin I've given it makes it uniquely socialist-themed.
Based on the changes in schooling during the early days of the USSR.

Title – What Did You Learn In School Today?

Validity: Must not have capitalism, must not have Child Self-Rearing, must have high authoritarianism

The Issue
The practice of socialism in @@NAME@@ has saturated all parts of life, but few parts more so than in secondary schools, colleges, and universities. Foreign systems of liberal education staffed by exotic, well-learned academics and professors teaching the elite are shunned in favour of a few trade schools which combine schoolwork with production. Though praised by the working class and factory management, many recent pupils across all disciplines struggle recalling deeper concepts than basic arithmetic and party doctrine.

Option 1 - “Is it not disconcerting to you that newly-graduated Literature majors cannot explain to you the theme of a piece?” fumes Professor @@RANDOMNAME@@, PhD, offering a pencil to one of your note takers. “I had a student come to me just a few days ago, and confide that they didn’t comprehend anything of the new curriculum – anything! It’s hardly literature any more, it’s mostly just going out and taking inventory of farm equipment… but it’s okay, because we’re ‘writing stuff down’ the boss says. I’m sick of it! Yes, these skills are essential to the socialist economy, someone needs to do them, but not everyone. The youth of @@NAME@@ will prosper more if they are allowed to actually stick with one subject, be it History, Economics, Psychology, or the ‘splendid’ Sociology."
Effect: students who can operate a stove compete at the national level

Option 2 - “The trades are extremely important for this great socialist experiment!” interjects ex-construction worker and Dean of Students at @@CAPITAL@@ Technical College Dave Gorgeske, PhD, downing a @@ANIMAL@@ Energy Drink and a pre-packaged burger. “Now aggh-” clearing his throat, “These kids might not respect manual labour, but it’s what most of them will actually be doing when they’re out of school. The state’ll teach ‘em the same basic lessons that’ll set ‘em up for life, but by the end they can flesh out their skills and become specialised, skilled workers. Maybe one or two aren’t cut out for the life and they go into liberal education instead, but we don’t need much more than that. Checkmate, liberals.”
Effect: the pinnacle of artistry is a clean weld


Option 3 - “Oh you wouldn’t know a worthwhile career if it hit you in the face.” snarls Joe Crossbarker, a lifer at a meat packing plant, gnawing on jerky. “They’re giving these fancy titles to anyone these days… I know what kids need these days – hell, even adults! They need a good, honest job working in the farms or factories. You ain’t worth anything if you’re not willing to sacrifice a little bit for your country. I tell ya, it ain’t easy work but it’s a lot more fulfilling. You gotta send those guys to us, most of them weren’t going to do what they wanted to do anyway, why not save them the time? They can learn it all on the job.”
Effect: a year in the mines beats a year in the books

Must not have Universal Healthcare
Option 4 - “You can talk up and down about liberal education vs. technical education, but this is something that everyone should be required to learn – no excuses, and that’s first aid.” huffs Dr. @@RANDOMNAME@@, attempting to poke a needle in your arm. “Oh, come on. You’ve been putting this off for months, it’ll just hurt a smidge. Look, if we implement classes on medicine, first aid, physiology and other medical fields into the national curriculum, then citizens can act as doctors for one another. Sure, we’ll still need a central system for medicine, but it’s quite a burden taken off the state!”
Effect: medical school is just school

The Issue
The practice of socialism in @@NAME@@ has saturated all parts of life, but few parts more so than in secondary schools, colleges, and universities. Foreign systems of liberal education staffed by exotic, well-learned academics and professors teaching the elite are shunned in favour of a few trade schools which combine schoolwork with production. Though praised by the working class and factory management, many recent pupils across all disciplines struggle recalling deeper concepts than basic arithmetic and party doctrine.

Option 1 - “Is it not disconcerting to you that newly-graduated Literature majors cannot explain to you the theme of a piece?” fumes Professor @@RANDOMNAME@@, PhD, offering a pencil to one of your note takers. “I had a student come to me just a few days ago, and confide that they didn’t comprehend anything of the new curriculum – anything! It’s hardly literature any more, it’s mostly just going out and taking inventory of farm equipment… but it’s okay, because we’re ‘writing stuff down’ the boss says. I’m sick of it! Yes, these skills are essential to the socialist economy, someone needs to do them, but not everyone. The youth of @@NAME@@ will prosper more if they are allowed to actually stick with one subject, be it History, Economics, Psychology, or the ‘splendid’ Sociology."
Effect: students who can operate a stove compete at the national level

Option 2 - “The trades are extremely important for this great socialist experiment!” interjects ex-construction worker and Dean of Students at @@CAPITAL@@ Technical College Dave Gorgeske, PhD, downing a @@ANIMAL@@ Energy Drink and a pre-packaged burger. “Now aggh-” clearing his throat, “These kids might not respect manual labour, but it’s what most of them will actually be doing when they’re out of school. The state’ll teach ‘em the same basic lessons that’ll set ‘em up for life, but by the end they can flesh out their skills and become specialised, skilled workers. Maybe one or two aren’t cut out for the life and they go into liberal education instead, but we don’t need much more than that. Checkmate, liberals.”
Effect: the pinnacle of artistry is a clean weld


Option 3 - “Oh you wouldn’t know a worthwhile career if it hit you in the face.” snarls Joe Crossbarker, a lifer at a meat packing plant, gnawing on jerky. “They’re giving these fancy titles to anyone these days… I know what kids need these days – hell, even adults! They need a good, honest job working in the farms or factories. You ain’t worth anything if you’re not willing to sacrifice a little bit for your country. I tell ya, it ain’t easy work but it’s a lot more fulfilling. You gotta send those guys to us, most of them weren’t going to do what they wanted to do anyway, why not save them the time? They can learn it all on the job.”
Effect: a year in the mines beats a year in the books

Must not have Universal Healthcare
Option 4 - “You can talk up and down about liberal education vs. technical education, but this is something that everyone should be required to learn – no excuses, and that’s first aid.” huffs Dr. @@RANDOMNAME@@, attempting to poke a needle in your arm. “Oh, come on. You’ve been putting this off for months, it’ll just hurt a smidge. Look, if we implement classes on medicine, first aid, physiology and other medical fields into the national curriculum, then citizens can act as doctors for one another. Sure, we’ll still need a central system for medicine, but it’s quite a burden taken off the state!”
Effect: medical school is just school

Validity: Must not have capitalism, must not have Child Self-Rearing, must have high authoritarianism

The Issue
The practice of socialism in @@NAME@@ has saturated all parts of life, but few parts more so than in secondary schools, colleges, and universities. Foreign systems of liberal education staffed by exotic, well-learned academics and professors teaching the elite are shunned in favour of a few technical schools which combine schoolwork with production. Though praised by the working class and factory management, many recent pupils struggle recalling deeper concepts than basic arithmetic and party doctrine.

Option 1 - “Is it not disconcerting to you that newly-graduated Literature majors cannot explain to you the theme of a piece?” fumes Professor @@RANDOMNAME@@, PhD, offering a pencil to one of your note takers. “I had a student come to me just a few days ago, and confide that they didn’t comprehend anything of the new curriculum – anything! It’s hardly literature any more, it’s mostly just going out and taking inventory of farm equipment… but it’s okay, because we’re ‘writing stuff down’ the boss says. I’m sick of it! Yes, these skills are essential to the socialist economy, someone needs to do them, but not everyone. The youth of @@NAME@@ will prosper more if they are allowed to actually stick with one subject, be it History, Economics, Psychology, or the ‘splendid’ Sociology."
Effect: students who can operate a stove compete at the national level

Option 2 - “Technical education is extremely important for this great socialist experiment!” interjects ex-construction worker and Dean of Students at @@CAPITAL@@ Technical College Dave Gorgeske, PhD, downing a confiscated @@ANIMAL@@ Energy Drink and a pre-packaged burger. “Now aggh-” clearing his throat, “sorry, sometimes it takes a bit of effort to get down. These kids might not respect manual labour, but it’s more relevant to their actual careers than the liberal arts would be.Students should go down a path and get training for the jobs the state needs. Everyone will learn the same basic lessons that’ll set ‘em up for life, but by the end they can flesh out their skills and become hard workers. One or two out of a hundred in the liberal arts should do fine, we don’t need much more than that. Checkmate, liberals.”
Effect: the pinnacle of artistry is a clean weld


Option 3 - “Oh you wouldn’t know a worthwhile career if it hit you in the face.” snarls Joe Crossbarker, pouring out the rest of the energy drink. “Don’t you know that’s bad for ya? They’re giving these fancy titles to anyone these days… You know what I am? That’s right, I’m a doctor of life, and I know what kids need these days – hell, even adults! They need a good, honest job working in the factories or on the farms. You ain’t worth anything if you’re not willing to sacrifice a little bit for your country. I tell ya, it ain’t easy work but it’s a lot more fulfilling. You gotta send those guys to us first, then maybe after a few years they can pick up a book.”
Effect: a year in the mines beats a year in the books

Must not have Universal Healthcare
Option 4 - “There’s something essential that I feel is missing from the school curriculum: first aid. You can talk up and down about liberal education vs. technical education, but this is something that everyone should be required to learn – no excuses.” huffs Dr. @@RANDOMNAME@@, attempting to poke a needle in your arm. “Oh, come on. You’ve been putting this off for months, it’ll just hurt a smidge. Anyway, if we implement classes on medicine, first aid, physiology and other medical fields into the national curriculum, then citizens can act as doctors for one another. Sure, we’ll still need a central system for medicine, but it’s quite a burden taken off the state!”
Effect: medical school is just school

Validity: Must not have capitalism, must not have Child Self-Rearing (?)

The Issue
The introduction of socialism in @@NAME@@ has caused quite a stir in secondary schools and universities, with the old system of liberal education staffed by foreign academics and professors teaching the elite falling by the wayside in favour of technical schools which combine schoolwork with production. Though praised by the working class and factory management, many recent pupils struggle recalling deeper concepts than basic arithmetic and party doctrine.

Option 1 - “Is it not disconcerting to you that newly-graduated Literature majors cannot explain to you the theme of a piece?” fumes Professor @@RANDOMNAME@@, PHD, offering a pencil to one of your note takers. “I had a student come to me just a few days ago, and confide that they didn’t comprehend anything of the new curriculum – anything! I can hardly call it literature any more, it’s mostly just going out and taking inventory of farm equipment… but it’s okay, because we’re ‘writing stuff down’ the boss says. I’m sick of it! Yes, these skills are essential to the socialist economy, someone needs to do them, but not everyone. The youth of @@NAME@@ will prosper more if they are allowed to actually stick with one thing, be it Engineering, Farming, Psychology, or the splendid Sociology."
Effect: students who can operate a stove compete at the national level

Option 2 - “Technical education is extremely important for this great socialist experiment!” interjects ex-construction worker and Dean of Students at @@CAPITAL@@ University @@RANDOMNAME@@, PhD, downing a confiscated @@ANIMAL@@ Energy Drink and a pre-packaged burger. “Now aggh-” clearing @@HIS@@ throat, “sorry, sorry, sometimes it takes a bit of effort to get down. But that’s just it, these kids might not respect the manual labour, building shelves, marking walls, but it’s much more relevant to most of their actual careers than the liberal arts would be. Starting in secondary school, students should go down a path and get training for the jobs the state needs. Once the state reaches the quota, a new in-need field will be selected. Everyone will learn the same basic lessons that’ll set ‘em up for life in the years before, but in that time they can flesh out their skills and become hard workers. One or two out of a hundred in the liberal arts should do fine, we don’t need much more than that. Checkmate, liberals.”
Effect: the pinnacle of artistry is a clean weld

Option 3 - “Oh you wouldn’t know a worthwhile career if it hit you in the face.” snarls @@RANDOMNAMEMALE@@, pouring out the rest of the energy drink. “Don’t you know that’s bad for ya? They’re giving these fancy titles to anyone these days… You know what I am? That’s right, I’m a doctor of life, and I know what kids need these days – hell, even adults! They need a good, honest job working in the factories or on the farms. You ain’t worth anything if you’re not willing to sacrifice a little bit for your country. I tell ya, it ain’t easy work but it’s a lot more fulfilling. You gotta send those guys to us first, then maybe after a few years they can pick up a book.”
Effect: a year in the mines beats a year in the books

Must not have Universal Healthcare
Option 4 - “There’s something essential that I feel is missing from the school curriculum: first aid. You can talk up and down about liberal education vs. technical education, but this is something that everyone should be required to learn – no excuses.” huffs Dr. @@RANDOMNAME@@, attempting to poke a needle in your arm. “Oh, come on. You’ve been putting this off for months, it’ll just hurt a smidge. Anyway, if we implement classes on medicine, first aid, physiology and other medical fields into the national curriculum, then citizens can act as doctors for one another. Sure, we’ll still need a central system for medicine, but it’s still a burden taken off the state!”
Effect: medical school is just school

Validity: Must not have capitalism, must not have Child Self-Rearing (?)

The introduction of socialism in @@NAME@@ has caused quite a stir in secondary schools and universities, with the old system of liberal education staffed by foreign academics and professors teaching the elite falling by the wayside in favour of technical schools which combine schoolwork with production. Though praised by the working class and factory management, many recent pupils struggle recalling deeper concepts than basic arithmetic and party doctrine.

Option 1 - “Is it not disconcerting to you that newly-graduated Literature majors cannot explain to you the theme of a piece?” fumes Professor @@RANDOMNAME@@, PHD, offering a pencil to one of your note takers. “I had a student come to me just a few days ago, and confide that they didn’t comprehend anything of the new curriculum – anything! I can hardly call it literature any more, it’s mostly just going out and taking inventory of farm equipment… but it’s okay, because we’re ‘writing stuff down’ the boss says. I’m sick of it! Yes, these skills are essential to the socialist economy, someone needs to do them, but not everyone. The youth of @@NAME@@ will prosper more if they are allowed to actually stick with one thing, be it Engineering, Farming, Psychology, or the splendid Sociology."
Effect: students who can operate a stove compete at the national level

Option 2 - “Technical education is extremely important for this great socialist experiment!” interjects ex-construction worker and Dean of Students at @@CAPITAL@@ University @@RANDOMNAME@@, PhD, downing a confiscated @@ANIMAL@@ Energy Drink and a pre-packaged burger. “Now aggh-” clearing his throat, “sorry, sorry, sometimes it takes a bit of effort to get down. But that’s just it, these kids might not respect the manual labour, building shelves, marking walls, but it’s much more relevant to most of their actual careers than the liberal arts would be. Starting in secondary school, students should go down a path and get training for the jobs the state needs. Once the state reaches the quota, a new in-need field will be selected. Everyone will learn the same basic lessons that’ll set ‘em up for life in the years before, but in that time they can flesh out their skills and become hard workers. One or two out of a hundred in the liberal arts should do fine, we don’t need much more than that. Checkmate, liberals.”
Effect: the pinnacle of artistry is a clean weld

Option 3 - “I hate to be cliché, and I’ve ruminated on this for a lengthy period, but it is evident that we should reconsider the validity of socialism as our economic system, and the part it now plays in our educational system. Yes, yes, I know, glory to the revolution and all, but this is a perfect example of what’s wrong with @@NATION@@ today.” snides Economist @@RANDOMNAMEMALE@@, doctor, and Nobbel laureate, smoking what appears to be a pipe. “We force people to do things they do not want to do, strip them of their freedom (that being an inherent part of this sort of mandatory, state-run education). Bleh. Private think tanks, private universities, et al have a place in society, and give kids who can afford the tuition a leg up as such. Great thinkers do not come from a mold, and do not prosper as the play-things of the state.”
Effect: a blank check is as good as a degree

Must not have Universal Healthcare
Option 4 - “There’s something essential that I feel is missing from the school curriculum: first aid. You can talk up and down about liberal education vs. technical education, but this is something that everyone should be required to learn – no excuses.” huffs Dr. @@RANDOMNAME@@, attempting to poke a needle in your arm. “Oh, come on. You’ve been putting this off for months, it’ll just hurt a smidge. Anyway, if we implement classes on medicine, first aid, physiology and other medical fields into the national curriculum, then citizens can act as doctors for one another. Sure, we’ll still need a central system for medicine, but it’s still a burden taken off the state!”
Effect: medical school is just school

^{Edit 15.9.26 - Added effect lines.
23.9.26 - Added "across all disciplines" to "The Issue" section.}

[Brezzia]

I think option 3 is out of place: no reason to abandon socialism for this topic. Also State universities are preferred to private ones even in some non-socialist nations.

I suggest an option to send students to work in state/collective farms or factories, reflecting historical anti-intellectual positions.

[Dushina]

I think option 3 is out of place: no reason to abandon socialism for this topic. Also State universities are preferred to private ones even in some non-socialist nations.

I suggest an option to send students to work in state/collective farms or factories, reflecting historical anti-intellectual positions.

I like this idea better, I didn't really enjoy the idea of removing socialism anyway. Seems counterproductive to the contest as well. Updated option #3 to match the suggestion.

[Australian rePublic]

I think this is more of an issue pertaining to dictatorships, rather than socialism. And in either case, how wide is this problem? Is it just in literature and economics, or does it span all aspects of education?

Sam ate 5 bananas and wanted 5 more. How many bananas did the glutenous capitalist pig desire to have in total?.

[Dushina]

I think this is more of an issue pertaining to dictatorships, rather than socialism. And in either case, how wide is this problem? Is it just in literature and economics, or does it span all aspects of education?

Sam ate 5 bananas and wanted 5 more. How many bananas did the glutenous capitalist pig desire to have in total?.

Added the line "across all disciplines" to the issue. I see the argument about dictatorships, hence why I added the authoritarianism validity. I don't think this issue would work as well in a capitalist nation.

[Nardin]

Interesting premise here; you're right that something like this could be applied to all nations, so I like the spin you've given it to make it specifically for socialist ones. I will say that most of these options are at or near 130 words, and could do with some trimming.

I think the second sentence (and maybe the end of the third) could be made a little clearer what direction education is taking in NAME, and what problem(s) the issue is centering on. Technical schools are being promoted and manual labor emphasized, which I assume means that STEM educations are being prioritized over liberal arts ones, and yet the end of the issue suggests that students are only learning the manual labor part of it while completely failing at the education aspects. I'm not sure if that was your intention, but that almost makes it sound like students in NAME are becoming illiterate/only good for manual labor, rather than the issue focusing on technical vs liberal educations. If it is your intention to suggest that this change in education is making people somewhat dumber, then maybe the speaker in option 1 should be talking about how that's going to lead to problems down the road.

Option 2 and 3 seem rather similar, in that both are supporting technical educations, with option 3 leaning more into the whole "the manual labor is more important than the actual education" thing. I feel like they may need differentiated slightly by having option 2's speaker addressing the education part more, since right now it seems like he's also focusing in on the manual labor.

Not sure how I feel about option 4 atm; the issue's focus is on liberal/STEM educations, while this option kind of ignores the debate and says "medical educations are important, you need to increase health funding." Not saying you need to cut it, but maybe try to tie it back in to the main debate somehow, or modify it for use as a compromise option between the two schools of thought.

[Dushina]

Interesting premise here; you're right that something like this could be applied to all nations, so I like the spin you've given it to make it specifically for socialist ones. I will say that most of these options are at or near 130 words, and could do with some trimming.

I think the second sentence (and maybe the end of the third) could be made a little clearer what direction education is taking in NAME, and what problem(s) the issue is centering on. Technical schools are being promoted and manual labor emphasized, which I assume means that STEM educations are being prioritized over liberal arts ones, and yet the end of the issue suggests that students are only learning the manual labor part of it while completely failing at the education aspects. I'm not sure if that was your intention, but that almost makes it sound like students in NAME are becoming illiterate/only good for manual labor, rather than the issue focusing on technical vs liberal educations. If it is your intention to suggest that this change in education is making people somewhat dumber, then maybe the speaker in option 1 should be talking about how that's going to lead to problems down the road.

Option 2 and 3 seem rather similar, in that both are supporting technical educations, with option 3 leaning more into the whole "the manual labor is more important than the actual education" thing. I feel like they may need differentiated slightly by having option 2's speaker addressing the education part more, since right now it seems like he's also focusing in on the manual labor.

Not sure how I feel about option 4 atm; the issue's focus is on liberal/STEM educations, while this option kind of ignores the debate and says "medical educations are important, you need to increase health funding." Not saying you need to cut it, but maybe try to tie it back in to the main debate somehow, or modify it for use as a compromise option between the two schools of thought.

Made some edits. I guess my use of "technical schools" should more accurately be trade schools, that is to say it's more about electricians than electrical engineers. This draft is a half-measure to gather a bit more critique and see if it's still unclear with the edits I've made. Option 3 now basically calls for only on the job training, option 1 is a promotion of liberal education, and option 2 is a promotion of the trades. Would the issue be improved if I did add more of a "STEM University" (promotion of STEM but through a university and theoretical standpoint, more in line with option #1 than option #2) option in addition? (I can't find a way to properly articulate this, and for that I'm sorry.)

I'm not married to option #4, but I wanted to sneak in a little universal healthcare option into a socialist issue. I don't really have much of a problem cutting it, if you and others believe that it makes the issue stronger.