October - Master

In Master class we're going to take what we learned in Journeyman a step further.

This month's inspirements (this is gonna be cake compared to reading 'The Fourth Turning' last month!):

• Read or listen to Elder Marion G. Romney's talk, Socialism and the United Order Compared.  We'll discuss the similarities and differences in class.
• Make a list of things you've noticed happening in the world around you that indicate that America is becoming more and more socialistic. Refer to the definition of socialism in Elder Romney's talk.  Bring your list to class so we can talk about them. 
• Prepare a presentation to teach the class about what you learned while studying a communistic society. I want you to present in front of the group in the most polished manner you can. Practice at home before you get to class, preferably with a few people you trust! Good statesmen/women need to be able to present their ideas to a group in a coherent, succinct way. Your presentation should be 5-10 minutes long (Time yourself as you practice). You can bring a visual aid if it will truly enhance what you are saying, but part of the purpose of this inspirement is to help you learn to convey your thoughts orally, so that should be your primary focus. 

Geography Inspirements (Thanks, Tova!!):

• Skim through this article, reading mostly the first couple paragraphs of the different sections. (after that, it mostly gives some great books to read if you want to study these religions further)
• Research a religion of your choice, and prepare a report about it. Also feel free to bring something to help teach us about that religion.

October - Journeyman

For the month of October our focus will be Virtue.  In Geo-Conquest, we will specifically be learning...

• A virtuous society is necessary for liberty to be preserved
• About various forms of government and how they impact the nations' citizens
• About communism, socialism, and capitalism - in depth.

To be prepared for class, please complete the following:

• Why is capitalism better than socialism?  Watch a 14-year-old boy explain.  (5 min)
• Listen to Tibor Aranyosi tell what it was like to live in Hungary under communistic rule in the 1950s.   (20 min)
• Watch Kitty Werthmann explain the transition to socialism in Austria in the 1930s.   (30 min)
• Read pages 91-119 in Just and Holy Principles. Find at least one TREASURE from each of the 3 talks that you feel inspired to share with the class.  
• Read principles 9-12 in The 5,000 Year Leap
• Review the forms of government (posted earlier on this blog).  We're playing a game with these, so study up! 
• Find an example of a communistic society in history. Try to find one you didn't know about before now. Learn as much as you can about this! List realities for the average citizen in the areas of home ownership, small business ownership, education level, income level, and medical care. It's fascinating to study how the form of government impacts society and contrast it with the society in which we live. Here are a few examples you could look at (but there are MANY more):

Kampuchea (Cambodia) - 1970s

Hungary - 1950s
Laos - 1970s
Cuba - 1960s
North Korea - 1940s
China
Egypt
Soviet Union
Poland (first to break free from Soviet Union)
East Germany (under Soviet Union)

Some examples of things to pay attention to as you study:

• Time period - the idea of communism has persisted throughout the ages.
• What was life like for the people before it became communistic?
• What was life like for people while it was communistic?
• What was life like for people after communism ended (if applicable)?
• If there was a revolution, why were the people inspired to revolt?
• Did communism solve the problems the society was facing when it accepted communism?

Places to look for information:

• Books (ask around for suggestions)
• Documentaries
• Interview someone who has lived under a communistic form of government
  

Geography Inspirements (Thanks, Tova, for coming up with these!!!):

"Asia was the birthplace of most of the world's mainstream religions including Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism, Jainism, Sikhism, Zoroastranism, as well as many other beliefs." I'd never thought of that before! Let's get into Asia through their religions.

• Watch this video then read the article about what the Church is doing in Asia 
• Label all the countries on this map of Asia, and look up each of their national religions (We'll be playing a game with them in class).

NOTE: As I mentioned in class, I am biased! I will be teaching what I believe to be right and true.  I do not consider it my job to give the opposing views, but rather, to teach truth - as revealed by apostles, prophets, and historical evidence.  If you are interested in being sure my view of truth is in line with yours, I invite parents and youth to ask! And parents are always welcome to sit in on my class (although I'd prefer that you leave the discussion to the youth). 

What You May Have Missed

If you didn't make it to Journeyman and Master class in September, you missed out!  I had such a good time discussing with our brilliant youth how the turnings in history correlate with the pride cycle in the Book of Mormon.  I made this chart to help make it more clear.  The inner circle has the Four Turnings from The Fourth Turning by Strauss and Howe.  The outer circle is the pride cycle we learn about over and over in the scriptures.

We also played Geo-Conquest Jeopardy to review the things we learned in our readings and in class.  

Forms of Government

In Journeyman class in October we're going to play a game with the following vocabulary words.  If you review them throughout the month you'll remember them really easily - or you can cram at the last minute if you prefer.  ;)  The reason we're learning these is so that as we study different societies we can identify which form of government they were/are operating under.

ANARCHY - A state of society without government or law. 

ARISTOCRACY - A government or state ruled by the elite, or privileged, upper class (i.e. wealthy rule, inherited name or title, or high educational status. Family names mean a lot.)

CONSTITUTIONAL REPUBLIC - a state in which the head of state and other officials are representatives of the people. They must govern to an existing constitution.  (The United states was set up this way originally, but it is now functioning more like a republic - or an Oligarchy - depending on who you ask!)

DEMOCRACY - Government by the people; power vested in people and exercised directly by them or their elected agents.  (majority wins, even when slight; works well when people are righteous.) 

DICTATORSHIP - Absolute, overbearing power or control exercised by a dictator.

DESPOTISM - The exercise of absolute authority; absolute power or tyranny; authority unlimited and uncontrolled by men, constitution or laws, depending alone on the will of the 'prince'. 

MOB RULE - Control or government by a gang, often of violent criminals. 

MONARCHY - Supreme power or sovereignty held by a single person.  (Rule by one; i.e. emperor, czar, king, etc.

OLIGARCHY - All power is vested in a few persons; rule by the few (a small percentage of the whole).

  

PLUTOCRACY - Rule or power by the wealthy.

REPUBLIC - Supreme power rests in the body of citizens entitled to vote and is exercised by representatives chosen directly or indirectly by them; rule by law (doesn't matter who is in charge, the laws govern).

TYRANNY - A state ruled by a tyrant or absolute ruler.  (Someone rules over everyone else; same as dictatorship.) 

THEOCRACY- Religious leaders who seek to rule in the name of God (someone claiming divine commission, acting as a liaison between the people & God).