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 - “Wait! We’re not @@ANIMALPLURAL@@! We have technology!” explains @@RANDOMNAMEMALE@@, somehow playing Herbal Space Project on his EI-84+ Graphing Calculator. “Bona fide universities still have a place in this nation, not these steel mills posing as diploma mills! Imagine that, something bad pretending to be something worse. Bah! STEM is the way forward, and I’m surely the first person to tell you that, aren’t I? Our greatest innovations, the @@CAPITAL@@ Tower, the @@LEADER@@ Dam are both modern marvels only possible through the hard work of well-educated engineers and scientists! Through education anything is possible, we must rebuild our system of universities to make sure the next great innovator can work on their dream project, not as a grunt, but as an engineer.”
Effect: two vast and trunkless legs of stone stand wee among modern marvels
Option 4 - “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
Edit 15.9.26 - Added effect lines.
23.9.26 - Added "across all disciplines" to "The Issue" section.




