A reader at economist Don Luskin’s blog points to a TCS article detailing how some Seattle schoolchildren are being taught the joys of collectivism and the evil of private ownership.

Some Seattle school children are being told to be skeptical of private property rights. This lesson is being taught by banning Legos.

According to an article in the winter 2006-07 issue of “Rethinking Schools” magazine, the teachers at the private school wanted their students to learn that private property ownership is evil.

…The teachers decided (this) was an opportunity to explore “the inequities of private ownership.” According to the teachers, “Our intention was to promote a contrasting set of values: collectivity, collaboration, resource-sharing, and full democratic participation.”

The children were allegedly incorporating into Legotown “their assumptions about ownership and the social power it conveys.” These assumptions “mirrored those of a class-based, capitalist society—a society that we teachers believe to be unjust and oppressive.”

They claimed as their role shaping the children’s “social and political understandings of ownership and economic equity ... from a perspective of social justice.”

…Legos returned to the classroom after the children agreed to several guiding principles framed by the teachers, including that “All structures are public structures” and “All structures will be standard sizes.” The teachers quote the children:

“A house is good because it is a community house.”

“We should have equal houses. They should be standard sizes.”

“It’s important to have the same amount of power as other people over your building.”

The Legos in question, incidentally, were not the property of the school, but were brought from home by the children and their parents.

As out children’s academic standing versus the rest of the world continues to deteriorate, teachers (?) inculcate our children with far left collectivist values instead of literacy, math skills and an appreciation for the uniquely American heritage.

Of course, the fact that these teachers (?) earn their livelihood at a private enterprise seems to have escaped their collectivist attention.  I wonder if their paychecks are all deposited into one big joint checking account?