I seem to remember (back when most teachers were not yet full-blown progressives) that a teacher or professor gave a lesson on communism by averaging all the grades in the class and giving every student the same average grade. Those who had worked hard for good grades were thus punished and the slackers were rewarded. So the hard workers slacked off, as the effort was not worth it, and the class average declined.
Would a (public) school teacher even dare to use such a lesson today? I doubt it!
A kid's got a ton of rules to follow and actually be afraid of (don't get caught with a pocket knife in your backpack even if it is in your locker because "they" can pull unannounced searches legally and look inside while you're in class (A REAL EVENT JUST A MONTH OR SO AGO IN PODUNK HILLBILLY LAND), that all the kid wants to do is get through school and get out.
And because of that subliminal pressure, no real education ever happens.
My daughter’s 6th grade teacher provided this lesson 2 years ago. It was memorable for her bc she works hard for her grades. Of course she attends a private school.
I remember being taught the evils of McCarthyism.