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Chinese Kids Tire of Communism

Mandatory Marxist indoctrination a tough sell to modern youth

By Sam Gale Rosen,  Newser Staff

Posted Jun 26, 2007 11:09 AM CDT

(Newser) – Chinese kids are bored stiff with the Communist philosophy still force-fed in their university system. Classes in Marxism have been mandatory since Mao, but cell-phone-weilding students entranced by China's burgeoning capitalist infrastructure are having trouble relating. "It's something like fiction," one student says of the readings in Das Kapital.

Education officials acknowledge the disconnect, and their philosophy curriculum is beginning to stress patriotism and ethics in lieu of strict Marxist ideology. Still, even the jaded are generally nervous about openly criticizing Marxism, since good standing within the Party is still so important to (monetary) success.

China. Shanghai. School classroom. 1993 (LON33474)
China. Shanghai. School classroom. 1993 (LON33474)   (Magnum Photos)
Karl Marx
Karl Marx   (Archive Photos)
Chinese students taking part in the annual college entrance exams walk by a giant bust of Chinese philosopher Confucius at the Wuhan No.2 Middle School in Wuhan, central China's Hubei province on Thursday, June 7 2007. Some 9.5 million students throughout China are taking part in the annual...
Chinese students taking part in the annual college entrance exams walk by a giant bust of Chinese philosopher Confucius at the Wuhan No.2 Middle School in Wuhan, central China's Hubei province on Thursday,...   (Associated Press)
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