Education: Love Those Guards

To the nervous Communist bosses of East Germany, teaching kids to be vigilant against “Western imperialist agents” is just as important as the alphabet or arithmetic. Latest evidence is a recent issue of ABC Zeitung, a magazine aimed at “Young Pioneers” aged six to eleven, which even includes a cutout cardboard model of an amphibious truck used by “our National People’s Army.” Best of all is a game called “On Guard for Peace.” Like similar U.S. games, the idea is to roll dice and advance so many spaces on an illustrated board. But for the Communist schoolchildren, the heroes are all border guards armed with automatic weapons. The game’s rewards and penalties:

1. Awake promptly: advance three spaces.

2. Healthful gymnastics; take another turn.

3. Boots badly shined; start over.

4. Greeted villagers cordially; advance five.

5. Guards relieved properly; take another turn.

6. Nail in boot, must remove it; lose a turn.

7. Sharp watch, border violator spotted! Advance five.

8. Border violator captured; advance to next telephone.

9. Must wade stream; lose a turn.

10. Praised for good guard service; take another turn.

n. Weapon kept ready for use; advance six spaces.

12. Helped a comrade to learn; advance three spaces.

13. Go promptly to bed; game is over.