WHY CAN'T I HAVE MY CAKE AND EAT IT TOO?

Cuban Socialist Society

What good came of Castro's revolution, and was it worth the price?

 

This Module Contains:

  • General DVD with 2.15 hours of digital footage of life in Cuba.

  • Topic-specific DVD with 2.9 hours of digital footage of socialism as it impacts Cuban daily life.

  • Transcripts of all interviews.

  • Comprehensive background information and summary materials (sample) of the footage, including flowcharts (sample)

  • Cutting-edge curriculum: teaching unit supporting social science standards complete with class activities, grading rubrics, four Power Point presentations, lecture materials, graphic organizers, homework assignments, a video on how to use the footage, and student briefing materials. 

                                                                                                                                          

 

Cuban Communism: Success and Failure of the Revolution: There is a longstanding joke in Havana that the Cuban revolution produced three great successes: public health care, excellent education, and social equality. It also produced three great failures: breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Students will examine the pros and cons of the Cuban political and social system through the lens of Cuban daily life.  Is universal healthcare worth the grinding poverty of slum housing?  Does a monthly food distribution make up for the need to hitchhike to work each day?  Is a free rock concert worth waiting in line for everything?  Does a system that puts the needs of society over the needs of the individual also encourage strong and enduring social ties?  How valuable is literacy when books are censored and you only have access to state newspapers?

 

 

 

 

Teaching Unit Overview: Capitalism and communism have been at odds for over a century, with each side accusing the other of failing to adequately provide for its citizens.  How does one define good government?  What is a government’s responsibility to its people?  How should a society prioritize its efforts to increase the quality of life of its people?  Is access to free healthcare and quality education more valuable than freedom of speech and movement?  These questions lie at the heart of any study of political systems. Students will examine the impact of communism on Cuban daily life, with particular emphasis on evaluating how much American views of Cuba have been influenced by propaganda and the US political agenda.

Footage Highlights:

  • An intimate look at the life and work of a family doctor in rural Cuba

  • Slum housing in Havana

  • Hitchhiking as an official form of public transport

  • A public rock concert put on by the state for Cuba’s youth

  • A dry goods distribution store

  • A street party on the Malecon – Havana’s “living room”

  • The public bus system

Licensing Fees

One-year, single classroom educational license: $250. Introductory price: $95.

Site license: contact Take 2

District license: contact Take 2