1968, after the manifestation of May 1968, in France, a strong movement for self management started. I was 9 year old and my father was a supporter of the Unified Socialist Party, an extreme left party.
I needed a ball to play at school during breaks.
My father suggested to me to make a coop and to buy a collective ball. I have asked him for some explanations, how is a coop working and I asked 20 cents of French Francs to four school mates and I bought a collective ball for 1 FF.
That had worked very fine for a week.
Then other pupils asks us to play in our playground. I said : « ok, give us 20 cts, we will buy candies and we will share candies among the group », 3 more pupils join the group and one complained to the teacher because he did not had 20 cts.
The teacher, who probably had conservative politician views confiscated the ball. She also put me in the upper class.
I have a lot of gratitude for my father for this great teaching. Even if the conclusion has been a little bit rude.
I have learn some limits of cooperation when I was 9 year old.
Today, I am happy to get our collective Franc back by posting this story on a decentralised social network.
And I will invest it in new collective ventures!
