Parents occupying schools

[bellyscratch]

I know this isnt necessarily a workers struggle but thought it fit in well here because it was an occupation. Feel free to move it if you think it fits in better somewhere else.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/glasgow_and_west/7983056.stm

20 parents have barricaded themselves in 2 schools in Glasgow as some schools are being threatened with closure. There has also been rallys outside in support of them

[LOLseph Stalin]

They should be closing the private schools, not the public schools. Private schools are an unfair advantage to wealthy kids. They pay to get in therefore they're likely to get a better quality education.

[ZeroNowhere]

They should be closing the private schools, not the public schools. Private schools are an unfair advantage to wealthy kids. They pay to get in therefore they're likely to get a better quality education.
So they should close down the schools that are apparently giving a 'better quality of education'? What.

[LOLseph Stalin]

So they should close down the schools that are apparently giving a 'better quality of education'? What.

No of course not, but that is what's happening. Kids in private schools tend to get a better quality of education. Of course they get there with money which means lower class people don't have this opportunity.

[Jeoh]

No of course not, but that is what's happening. Kids in private schools tend to get a better quality of education. Of course they get there with money which means lower class people don't have this opportunity.

So instead of closing them, why not make them public? Seems like a pretty stupid 'solution' to just close them.

[teenagebricks]

It may not be much of a solution but if you look at the bigger picture you'll see that closing private schools would do far less damage to local communities. Making them public would be ideal really.

[Jazzratt]

They should be closing the private schools, not the public schools. Private schools are an unfair advantage to wealthy kids. They pay to get in therefore they're likely to get a better quality education.

I agree. Private ("Public", here) schools are disgusting. They poach decent teachers from comprehensives and are fully prepared to boot out students in order for their educational standard (as measured by exam results) is artificially inflated - anyone can claim to be a great school if they hoof out any below average pupils. Add to that the fact that privatised services (be they health, education or whatever) represent a privilege for the upper classes and I see no reason that any leftists would want these places around.

[PRC-UTE]

moved to politics

[Sam_b]

This is excellent, and hopefully th start of much more community activism. One of the primary schools planned to be closed by the Labour council is a short walk from my flat, and the parents there have organised really well. There have been petitions, marches...and now this. I really hope it can get the goods. All this activity has also linked up groups and communities and solidarity actions: parents, school teachers, the student occupiers at the universities, and the social service supervisors who have now been out on indefinite strike for a couple of months now.

I find it crazy that Labour find it appropriate to cut these schools, citing 'lack of money'. But, of course, there are blank cheques for council leader's pay rises, privatisation, and city 'development' for the Commonwealth Games.

[LOLseph Stalin]

So instead of closing them, why not make them public? Seems like a pretty stupid 'solution' to just close them.

The problem with that would be that they would just become the same as any other public school. THey wouldn't be any different than the already existing public schools so it wouldn't make a difference if they were closed or not.

[Bitter Ashes]

I agree. Private ("Public", here) schools are disgusting. They poach decent teachers from comprehensives and are fully prepared to boot out students in order for their educational standard (as measured by exam results) is artificially inflated - anyone can claim to be a great school if they hoof out any below average pupils. Add to that the fact that privatised services (be they health, education or whatever) represent a privilege for the upper classes and I see no reason that any leftists would want these places around.
It's what's reffered to as a "brain drain" and it doesnt just happen with schools. Take the NHS, a lot of the best doctors and surgeons have jumped ship to the private sector. Teachers do the same with public/private schools.
The effects of this is that quality education that the brightest students could really benefit from is withheld unless thier parents are either bourgeois, or are particually good and willing to increase the bourgeois' profits. "Be a good little capitalist and your child will get the education they need". And what's the motivting factor to get these kids the highest level of education that they can benefit from? Why, it's to make sure that they grow up to be the best benefit to the bourgeois as possible, at least from the parents' perspective.
The thing that these parents really fear is thier child will grow up to be of little use to the bourgeois and the bourgeois will punish them for it by withholding employment, which in turn leads to withholding cash, which in turn leads to withholding housing, food, social standing and may even encourage them to turn to crime to survive, resulting in jail terms. Maybe it's time that they wake up and realise that these threats to thier childrens' futures are entirely the fault of capitalism and the bourgeois' manipulations and not down to themselves. It's time to stop the self-loathing parents and fight for a lasting solution for your children's future!

[punisa]

They should be closing the private schools, not the public schools. Private schools are an unfair advantage to wealthy kids. They pay to get in therefore they're likely to get a better quality education.

I could never afford private schools, but I have nothing against them. The quality of education is much better, I know many people from private schools that tend to be much more civilised, more in depth about politics (and socialism) and life in general then some from public schools.

Individuals that go to private schools are usually made to by their parents (who got the $$$), but in the end majority are not spoiled wealthy kids.

We as socialists, must encourage for all to get the best education that they can provide.
If they have money, then yes - private schools and colleges are a very good option.
Bare in mind that I am speaking from current standpoint, we do live in capitalism.

Without educated working class there will never be a revolution, at least not the final one.
We do not need another socialist revolution carried by masses chanting songs about Lenin and Marx without even knowing who the hell these people are/were.

[The Feral Underclass]

I know this isnt necessarily a workers struggle but thought it fit in well here because it was an occupation.

Of course it's a workers struggle! Why would it not be?

[bellyscratch]

Of course it's a workers struggle! Why would it not be?
I meant it in the sense that the parents dont actually work at the place they are occupying

[The Feral Underclass]

But they are workers and they are in struggle...

[Patchd]

I agree. Private ("Public", here) schools are disgusting. They poach decent teachers from comprehensives and are fully prepared to boot out students in order for their educational standard (as measured by exam results) is artificially inflated - anyone can claim to be a great school if they hoof out any below average pupils. Add to that the fact that privatised services (be they health, education or whatever) represent a privilege for the upper classes and I see no reason that any leftists would want these places around.

What Jazzratt said, but I'd like to add the education system in Britain in general is disgusting. It was made worse by Thatcher I believe when she introduced the ranking system for schools. It put them in greater competition with other schools in the neighbourhood/country and therefore more prone to excluding pupils simply because they weren't "good" enough, just so their rankings could increase.

Our public education is something which needs to be improved upon but still defended. Solidarity to all parents involved in the occupations.

[/waiting for slack from Holden cos I went to a grammar] :tt2:

[bellyscratch]

But they are workers and they are in struggle...

Yeh I understand that. Its been moved from the Workers Struggle section anyway...