People Power German Student Style
November 13th 2008 08:45
We've all heard about striking teachers demanding better pay or union organised protests disrupting CBDs to draw attention to injustices, but how many of us have heard of students striking in protest to over-crowed class rooms, not enough government funding and unreasonable work hours? Well, all across Germany yesterday that's exactly what happened.
According to one 13-year-old demonstrator, "there are not enough teachers and too many children in the classes". ([B]Link to article)/B]). The students feel that too much is expected of them and that they do not have adequate resources to meet these demands. So, rather than gritting their teeth and putting up with it, the students took to the streets with multi-lingual banners and typical activist chants to get their message across.
This however, is not the first time in recent memory that German students have taken to the streets to protest the state of their education.
On June 5 of this year 2 500 students -accompanied by teacher sympathisers- were out in force to oppose the planned closure of the Romance Studies and Philosophy departments at the University of Duisburg-Essen. In addition to this highly visible form of people-power, over 7000 signatures were collected and presented to the university's chancellor. Link
The reason cited for this cut is that the budget is running at a deficit and raised tuition fees have placed education out of some potential students reach. The raising of fees has also been protested on separate occasions.
Although I sympathise with the students who feel the education they are receiving-if they can afford it- is substandard, I do admire their solidarity and resolve to take a stand. Furthermore, as the purpose of the government is to serve the people, such demonstrations (in my mind at least) are a potent tool for reversing adverse policy trends so I wish my German counterparts the best of luck.
According to one 13-year-old demonstrator, "there are not enough teachers and too many children in the classes". ([B]Link to article)/B]). The students feel that too much is expected of them and that they do not have adequate resources to meet these demands. So, rather than gritting their teeth and putting up with it, the students took to the streets with multi-lingual banners and typical activist chants to get their message across.
This however, is not the first time in recent memory that German students have taken to the streets to protest the state of their education.
On June 5 of this year 2 500 students -accompanied by teacher sympathisers- were out in force to oppose the planned closure of the Romance Studies and Philosophy departments at the University of Duisburg-Essen. In addition to this highly visible form of people-power, over 7000 signatures were collected and presented to the university's chancellor. Link
The reason cited for this cut is that the budget is running at a deficit and raised tuition fees have placed education out of some potential students reach. The raising of fees has also been protested on separate occasions.
Although I sympathise with the students who feel the education they are receiving-if they can afford it- is substandard, I do admire their solidarity and resolve to take a stand. Furthermore, as the purpose of the government is to serve the people, such demonstrations (in my mind at least) are a potent tool for reversing adverse policy trends so I wish my German counterparts the best of luck.
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Comment by D. Armenta
The Florida Keys and Everglades
The Black Sheep Chronicles
What constitutes bad manners?
The male mystique
Debate Fan
L.A.M.P.
Students anywhere have a great power to incite change; they're all in the same place/campus, so it's easier to organise them. A great crowd of students marching down a street with signs is an awesome sight.
It was mostly students who hounded U.S. president Nixon to withdraw from the Vietnam war--they camped outside the White House for days, protesting U.S. involvement.
In these troubled days, students have a civic responsibility to use their great numbers and organisation to watchdog their governments and administrators, so....GO STUDENTS!!
Thanks for sharing this.
Comment by Wynona Lavota
Generation Y Life
Thank you for the input, it never occured to me that we're much easier to assemble because of our campus location!
Comment by D. Armenta
The Florida Keys and Everglades
The Black Sheep Chronicles
What constitutes bad manners?
The male mystique
Debate Fan
L.A.M.P.
Okay, Wynona--what are you going to do with this fantastic resource? Shall I see you in Oz news reports as a great organizer for green power? Better Sunshine laws in government? The possibilities to make history and help all Oz citizens are endless!
I'm rather jealous! I wish I had your position...
(Well, except for the being in my 20s part--that was hell--but I did have great physical health at least)
Comment by Wynona Lavota
Generation Y Life
We seem to be a rather complacent bunch- mostly the activists on campus say they get verbal support, but when they ask for help with putting posters up etc they usuay hear "oh no, I don't want to get in trouble". That or the protesters are just flat out ignored. One friend commented "Why do they other? they're not going to change anything."
Comment by D. Armenta
The Florida Keys and Everglades
The Black Sheep Chronicles
What constitutes bad manners?
The male mystique
Debate Fan
L.A.M.P.
Ralph Nader still does it and does it well-- even with both political parties, the ruling U.S. corporations, and all U.S. mainstream media blacking him out and trying to slander his name. Big business hates Nader because he's always fighting them on behalf of us, the taxpayers. Since 1966.
He organized something like 1500 people on Wall street a few weeks ago to protest our getting screwed on a "bailout bill" passed by our Congress.
Yep-if I had the opportunity you have now, I'd study Nader for inspiration: AcademyofAchievement
Comment by Wynona Lavota
Generation Y Life
Comment by D. Armenta
The Florida Keys and Everglades
The Black Sheep Chronicles
What constitutes bad manners?
The male mystique
Debate Fan
L.A.M.P.
When I get too jaded, I just go back and read about Ralph.
--Then I want to keep working for my beliefs again.