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Alpha Stage
Socialism in South America
January 10, 2007






The New York Times is running an article entitled, “Venezuela’s
Chavez Sworn in for Third Term.”

Hugo Chavez is a strong adherent to socialism and a follower of Cuba’
s Fidel Castro. According to the article, Chavez said, “I don't have the
slightest doubt that (socialism) is the only path to the redemption of
our peoples, the salvation of our fatherland,” at his inauguration.

The article reports that Chavez said that he would ask the National
Assembly to grant him special powers to create a set of “revolutionary
laws,” by decree.
Read a similar article!!


Discussion-Starters for Younger Children:

  • Ask your students if they think that they should share
    everything or if it’s ok to have some things that are just theirs.
    Encourage them to explain their thoughts.
  • This might be a wonderful opportunity to have the
    children decorate a part of the classroom that is
    distinctly theirs, such as their cubby or desk.

  • Do your students think that a leader should be able to make any
    rules that he/she wants to make? Why/why not?
  • You might ask students to list rules that would be bad
    for anybody to make. Write these rules on an overhead
    or the board.

  • If your students were rulers for a day what laws would they
    make to help other people? Why?
  • Students could work with two other students to develop
    a rule that would help other people.

  • Do your students think that people should be allowed to
    disagree with rulers? Why/why not?


Discussion-Starters for Older Students:

  • Vocabulary Terms to Discuss: Socialism; Radical; Redemption;
    and, Tyrant.

  • Do your students think that societies are better or worse off
    when people are allowed to disagree with political leaders?
    Encourage them to explain their thoughts.

  • Do your students think that people should even be allowed to
    disagree with elected leaders on television? Why/why not?
  • Encourage your students to argue for both sides. This
    will promote critical thinking skills.

  • According to the article, Chavez’s supporters are largely poor.
    Why would poor people support nationalizing businesses, or
    taking businesses away from private owners and giving them to
    the government? Do your students think that nationalizing
    businesses could benefit a society? Why/why not?
  • You might encourage students to consider these
    questions in groups of three or four. Ask them to write
    three reasons why nationalization might work and three
    reasons why it might not work to improve living
    conditions for all within the society.

  • In the United States of America the core democratic value of
    equality is emphasized. What does it mean for people to be
    equal? Do your students think that everybody in the United
    States is truly equal to everybody else? Explain!!

  • What’s the difference between equity and equality?
  • You might consider asking students to make comic
    strips explaining what equality means in the United
    States. Allow them to be creative and they can produce
    incredible results.
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