Parent Guide > Total Control in North Korea

This week in class, we’re reading "Total Control in North Korea" by Jessica McBirney.

This article describes life in North Korea under totalitarian government rule. In North Korea, the government has total control over the economy, the military, education, and people's access to information—and it punishes those who try to change the status quo.

As we read, we will be discussing the themes of Power & Greed, Social Change & Revolution, and Social Pressure as they relate to the text. We are trying to answer these big questions :

"Why do people follow the crowd?", "How does power corrupt?", and "Why do people resist change?"

Ways to support your child:

• Ask your child about this informational text at home:
  • What was "Total Control in North Korea" about?
  • What did you learn about Power & Greed?
  • What did you learn about Social Change & Revolution?
  • What did you learn about Social Pressure?
• Watch the following clips with your child at home:
  • 'My escape from North Korea'
  • 'The family I lost in North Korea. And the family I gained. Joseph Kim'
  • 'Yeonmi Park – North Korea’s Black Market Generation'
  • 'VICE on HBO Season One: The Hermit Kingdom (Episode 10)'