Stalin Joke No 3 (the last for a while)

Stalin, the Great Teacher and Lover of Children is due to visit a primary school in a distant village. The terrified headmistress anxiously primes the children with the right things to say.

The day, and the Great Man arrive. Stalin, beaming, sits in front of the assembled teachers and pupils, and asks a little girl,

"Do you like your school?"

"The Soviet Union has the best schools in the world," she replies.

To a little boy, "And are your teachers good at their job?"

"The Soviet Union has the best teachers in the world," he replies.

To a third child, "And what about school meals?"

Child, well drilled and terrified, gives predicatable repliy.

Suddenly a little boy at the back of the class bursts into tears.

"What is the matter?" asks Stalin.

"I wish I lived in the Soviet Union," sobs the boy.