Strikes are dramatic and get press coverage. But more effective I think
would be for the teacher and students to return to the schools and refuse
to teach the state curriculum, refuse to give or take the state tests. En
masse. There are a lot of things you could teach students about that would
frighten the politicians far more than a strike, and it would be very hard
for them to fine you for exercising academic freedom. I would bet that they
would then try to lock you out of the schools. Teach the students about the
role of corporate and private money in electing local politicians, about
the kinds of legislation that is usually before parliament (which is always
about some special financial favors for those contributors). Teach them
about the distribution of income and distribution of wealth in Canada.
Teach them about students and children's legal rights as defined in the
existing law. Engage them in serious discussions about what they would
really like to learn about and know and understand -- without regard for
the normal curriculum. Teach them about early Christian communism, about
Buddhist beliefs, about Islam. Teach them about the history of labor
movement in Canada (especially the embarassing parts). The history of
political corruption in Toronto (there must have been some). Teach them
about hate crimes against ethnic minorities, gays, etc. Teach them about
the arguments in favor of Quebec separatism. About how to use condoms to
prevent AIDS ... about the actual effects and risks of various drugs (not
the salutary lies normal in our curricula) ... about popular culture of
their own generation ... about heritage literature that shows the darker
side of history and cultures ...
I imagine one could make a very long list of things that the government
would never want taught in schools ... and some of these topics would
probably engage the interest of students ... and think of the things the
students could WRITE and put on the internet, or publish in illegal
'school' publications and circulate in the community ... and send to the
press...
Schools can be institutions of overwhelming subversive power toward any
state or its ideologies ... that is why they want to more fully control you
--- just in case you should get any ideas that students should learn either
what they really want to know, or what other really don't want them to know.
JAY.
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JAY L. LEMKE
CITY UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK
JLLBC who-is-at CUNYVM.CUNY.EDU
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