Category: Anti-capitalist

The final post in this series responds to the ‘lefty trad’ case for high expectations. The line of reasoning is straightforward: As socialists believe ordinary people are capable of great achievements, then we should expect working-class children to comply with strict discipline techniques, such as SLANT.

The simplicity of the argument fails to hide the sleight of hand. The conclusion does not follow from the premise. It is true that socialists have the highest expectations of the working class. Indeed, as the revolutionary class, it will be responsible for nothing less than the end of capitalism. However, that does not mean socialists expect children to comply with ‘no-excuses’ school cultures.

In part one of this series we analysed a quote about ‘order’ from a socialist politician in 1923. After establishing its context, we concluded that the quote did not support the ‘lefty trad’ case for the use of strict disciplinary techniques, such as SLANT, in state schools today.

Now we turn to a second quote used to justify those techniques. The argument is as follows: In a socialist society  everybody will be expected to work for mutual benefit. However, idleness is a natural part of human character and requires a sanction. Avoidance of work is “amplified a thousandfold” in schools. Teachers must impose strong discipline to ‘correct’ adolescents’ reluctance to engage in learning.