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February 26, 2006

Comments

Christopher Day

I think this is cool, BUT do kids really need instructions on how to build a fort? Isn't "fortness" some sort of kid-like Kantian category of understanding hard-wired into the part of our brains that we share with lizards?

Just wondering.

celticfire

Ha! This is wonderful! I love it! I was very happy to find this out.

Maz

If that letters section doesn't warm your heart then you don't have one.

john

ok, someone has to say it.

This kids paper is indoctrination in social democracy. And not an article I've read (and i've read quite a few, if not all yet) breaks out of the framework of bourgeois politics.

Look at the discussion of the Supreme Court and Alito! (How would YOU explain the Supreme Court to an interested 10 or 12 year old?)

Or the articles on the mines -- is the point really that miners need more safety laws? Or that this whole framework is build on human suffering and loss?

I am not against simplifying complex matters for some audiences (including in this case) -- kids. But folks praising THIS effort have left their revolutionary politics behind.

I was having coffee with a 60s veteran the other day, and she told me a story from the Black Panther days (where they taught REVOLUTIONARY politics over their "breakfast for children program"!

Anyway, she described how the Panthers were raided in some city, and a cop patted the head of one of the kids as he took the mother away in handcuffs.

"Don't cry, boy," the cop said.

"Revolutionaries don't cry, pig," the kid replied.

I'm not saying we need to copy the details of what the Panthers did...

But at least lets offer kids and everyone else REVOLUTIONARY politics and truths not this lukewarm bullshit.

another brotha, ex-teacher collective

whatever john. i remember lenin saying something about ultraleftists trying to bring revolution in quick swoop is the same as trying to teach algebra to a 5 year old.
The Indykids is a great project trying to bring some radical mass education to young folk. As a teacher I think its way better than weekly readers or scholastic that students are force feed.
Just my humble opinion...

ex-student collective

Dude, John.

It's a participatory paper, not a party press. Can you suggest a good "revolutionary" kids publication? If you can't, they have an open submission policy (I assume) as part of the Indymedia network. So be the media dude. Their email is right there, anyway. Why don't you give them a ring and see what they're trying to do instead of weighing in with your 5-minute critique.

Assume people care.

In that spirit, I will avoid all tempation to make a smart ass comment.

The most revolutionary things to teach children are how to share and learn from other people; that it's bigger than any one of us, but what we do matters; basic fraternity, casual creativity and a culture of health and optimism.

I hope this paper really finds its footing, and that we find all kinds of new ways to reach broadly into the population with ideas at least trying to serve the people.

Maybe one day someone will meet John's essential challenge. But that's what it is: challenging.

Assume people care.

ex-student collective

"Revolutionaries don't cry, pig," the kid replied.

--------

Classic.

the burningman

IndyKids isn't just banned from all 62 branches of the Queens Public Library, the New York Public Library has also blocked it.

Adventures in freedom of speech continue...

IndyBIGkid

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