school would be like this *:
At the beginning of the school year, besides the mandatory vaccination, there would be a mandatory signing of the Pledge to the President, to be completed by the child and his/her parents or guardians. No pledge, no school. No school, go to juvie.
A picture of the President would be mandatory equipment of each classroom. Banners with quotes by the President would be optional but highly encouraged.
Students and faculty would be greeted by a larger-than-life statue of the President in the schoolyard.
The President's books would be on every school's mandatory reading list. Every household would own at least one copy of each of his books.
The First Lady would be Minister of Education, and all schools would be required to adopt a standard curriculum established by her.
School plays would have as subject the glorified lives of the President and First Lady. Plays and pageants based on any other subject would have to be approved by the Ministry of Education.
Criticism of the President would result in detention for the child and fines for the parents. Repeat offenders would go to jail.
Every student enrolled in public school would be automatically a member of the President's Youth Organization. Attendance would be taken at the group meetings.
Private schools and home schooling would be outlawed.
Membership in organizations not approved by the Ministry of Education would make students ineligible to attend college.
Viewing of the weekly addresses by the President would be mandatory. Members of the President's Security Organization would ensure that each school not only shows the President's speech but enforces each student's attendance. Absent students would be fined.
Since none of the above is going to happen next Tuesday, we should be confident that we are a long ways away from Honecker with a tan.
*The hypothetical examples above were inspired by stories from friends and relatives who did actually live under an authoriatian regime.