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Iowa High School flyer allegedly promoting communism stirs controversy

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Spokane Conservative Examiner

A flyer handed out at Theodore Roosevelt High School in Des Moines, Iowa, appears to extol the "virtues" of communism over capitalism.

The flyer has a cartoon that shows the differences between the two systems.

One side of the cartoon, labeled "Capitalism," shows unhappy workers in tattered clothing attached to a ball and chain toiling away at a machine.  On the opposite side of the machine is a well-dressed rich man smoking a large cigar and carrying a bag of cash.  The cartoon depicts money coming out of the machine being deposited directly into the bag.

The other side, labeled "Communism," depicts the same two workers, well dressed and happy, doing their job as money is flowing back to them.

Simon Conway of WHO Radio read the flyer's description of both systems:

Communism stands for equal sharing of the work according to the benefits and ability. But in Capitalism an individual is responsible for his works and if he wants to raise the ladder, he has to work hard.

While the profit of any enterprise is equally shared by all in Communism, the profit in the Capitalist structure belongs to the private owner only.
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An article at the Des Moines Register notes:
First off the definition of communism and capitalism on this handout are incorrect and seem like that would come straight from a old Soviet school textbook. This is nothing but propaganda which begs the question what were they passing it out for?  Was this meant to be an example of Soviet propaganda while the class discussed the Cold War or is this an example of a teacher trying to indoctrinate kids?
Shane Vander Hart of the Des Moines Register said he left a message for Principal Kathie Danielson.
 
The school responded to Conway's report by posting a statement on its website, claiming he misrepresented the flyer, which the school says was part of  "a class lesson about the Cold War."
 
"The radio show posted, on its web site, only a selectively edited part of a class handout – entitled 'The two sides of the Cold War' - in order to give a false impression that students were being taught to support communism," the school said.
 
The school posted a link to the flyer so those concerned can see the whole lesson and make up their own minds.
 
"Furthermore," the school adds, "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 lesson includes a short quiz asking the students to evaluate both systems based on the chart and the readings that accompany it.
 
Students are asked, for example, to state "2-3 Pros (Benefits) of a Communist system," as well as "2-3 Pros (Benefits) of a Capitalist system."  They are also asked to state the negatives of each, however, the word "Capitalist" is spelled "Capitlist."
 
The students are then asked:  "After reviewing the pros and cons of both systems, I believe the ____________ system is best," and are asked to justify their choice.
 
The flyer does note, for example, that under capitalism, anyone is free to start a business and hire others while no such freedom exists under communism.  It also notes that capitalism provides for a free economy while communism does not. 
 
Below the graphic, the material adds that communism abolishes private property while capitalism "stands for private property."
 
While the material does not properly explain the nature of supply-and-demand as it relates to the price set for goods and services, it does note that the price of goods in a communist system is determined by the government.
 
While the handout glosses over many aspects of communism, the school says it "simply highlights the differences between capitalism and communism, and some of the arguments made during the period of the Cold War."
 
"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 reads.

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Flyer handed out at Iowa High School allegedly promotes communism over capitalism.
Flyer handed out at Iowa High School allegedly promotes communism over capitalism.
Photo credit: 
theblaze.com

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, Spokane Conservative Examiner

Joe Newby is an IT professional who has been involved in conservative politics for years. In 1991, he ran for City Council in Riverside, California, and has served as a campaign manager for local conservatives in California and Idaho, including former Idaho State Representative Jeff Alltus. For...

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