student rights/unions

[Big Red]

[FONT=Times][COLOR=red]hey everyone i'm new to this revleft and i was just wondering if anyone had any experience or advice for starting a student rights/union for my highschool and trying to organize the student populace, thanks in advance

[Red October]

A high school near me started a "Student's Rights Union", but they never got much done and it quickly turned into a group of apathetic hippies who went to the park to smoke weed. I set up a table there once to distribute literature and talk to them about student's issues, but it was like talking to moss.

[Big Red]

hmmm well thats shitty

[Vicarious]

Im trying to do the same thing at BHS (Brandon High School) in FL, its not working.
Students at BHS like touching eachother in provocative ways and BHS is known for being undefeated in wrestling, must be a connection.

[Comeback Kid]

In short. most teenagers (I am one) are apathetic as fuck. get a part time job and start with an established union before starting anything like this yourself.

[Comeback Kid]

In short. most teenagers (I am one) are apathetic as fuck. get a part time job and start with an established union before starting anything like this yourself.



edit. that was a real disparaging comment. soz for being a pragmatist

[INDK]

When I was in high school, we had a "Radical Students Union" we just fought for our rights on a local-level. Our biggest triumph was abolishing our local school-uniform, we argued it was a violation of the freedom of expression and there was a petition of the parents and they pretty much all agreed to abolish the policy. Students, in a sense, are workers, if you think of it as a proletarian is one who does not own the means of production, instead of one who does sell their labor power to survive. And the workers need their rights. Most high-schools let you apply to create a group, and maybe you shouldn't call it a "Radical Students Union" (we had to debate with officials on what Radical means in that context, we simply said it meant for the rights of students, no matter the policy. We would fight to change the policies. Maybe that'll work for you) but all the same your school should accept it, even with a little prodding. Then just distribute pamphlets and literature (I definitely wouldn't give out Communist papers or anything, the school will put your Union away in seconds) debating school policies and things that are unjust in your school board. Student action is action all the same, every small action counts, so keep working hard and even if you get put down you can make a difference.

[Red October]

I guess it depends on the unique circumstances of each situation, but when I was trying to organize in high school, an official group recognized by the school was not a very good option. We considered the idea, but we could not find any staff members to sponsor it and there was a lot of bureaucracy to go through. Honestly, I don't think we could have even gotten enough students to come to regular meetings at school. Me the other leftists at my school got a whole lot more done without an official group. But if you have enough people to do that and can get administrative approval, go for it. But the school administration is never going to tolerate anything on their campus that could cause trouble for the school, at least not where I live.

[INDK]

I guess it depends on the unique circumstances of each situation, but when I was trying to organize in high school, an official group recognized by the school was not a very good option. We considered the idea, but we could not find any staff members to sponsor it and there was a lot of bureaucracy to go through. Honestly, I don't think we could have even gotten enough students to come to regular meetings at school. Me the other leftists at my school got a whole lot more done without an official group. But if you have enough people to do that and can get administrative approval, go for it. But the school administration is never going to tolerate anything on their campus that could cause trouble for the school, at least not where I live.

Well we played it safe and used words and attacked by paper instead of protest. I think if you play by the rules and, ya know, don't have an occupation or walkout ;), you may be able to make a few changes in your school system.

[Red October]

Then what did you do if not action?

[INDK]

Then what did you do if not action?

Wrote vigorously to officials, began petitions. We made a point to try and be completely non-hostile, because we know we could get shut down very easily.

[Coggeh]

A school in my area did a mass walk out for 2 days because the school wouldn't turn on the heating .:)

Think of the school as the workplace , with managers as the principal and vice principal , its just its easier in school because it takes alot more to get kicked out of school then to get fired from work . Although organizing in school shouldn't have any effect on your education(It may so try your best to keep one from not effecting the other) .

Their was once a prayer said through the intercom(catholic school) for maddeline mccann (Twice!) the next week i stuck up about 10 leaflets saying "In our current system a child dies every 5 seconds from easily prevented diseases and we pray for one we can not do anything about? "

Another thing me and about 5 others are thinking about doing is opposing the forced prayer at the start of the day and at the end , if you don't stand up and pray your kicked out of class . Its a joke ,they say its a catholic school you must all pray , Its Ireland ... THEIR ALL FUCKING CATHOLIC (not much choice really)

No students are going to be totally serious about starting a union but you'd be surprised by some people on their level of thinking and try and make the issues immediate to them i suppose .

Look for issues that effect them consciously , such as heating in the school i mentioned above and try to lead an opposition to it .

[RedDawn]

We helped with a struggle as a result of our anti-war student walkouts.

A working-class suburb of Seattle led over 120 kids to walkout of class. They opened up investigations on 6 teachers, we prevented 5 of them from getting fired, the guy under the most heat decided to not reapply for his job.

We also succeeded in getting the principal fired, the school board said they couldn't sleep because we had people from around the world calling and emailing. We also had demos at two school board meetings.

Schools can be pretty brutal, they kicked out one girl out of school as a result of our actions and used to police and fire dept. to breakup student meetings.

You can checkout more about Socialist Alternative's actions if you search google for Tukwila 6

[Sand Castle]

I tried to organize one once. One guy was like, "It's a good idea, but I don't want to do a marching protest." As if that was all we did or something. :rolleyes: Then there was that one girl I asked who just didn't answer.

I guess the ability of a school's students to form a union is equal to the amount they think they're being screwed over. Most kids actually think they're learning something when they go in there. Yes, knowledge of math and science is important, but not to the level they're taking it to. They could be training us for jobs right now, and those who want to pursue a job that requires more than basic chemistry and 2 years of algebra should take those classes. They shouldn't force those of us who wont pursue those kinds of careers to take those classes. Try telling that to some potential union members. Again, most students actually think that the school is helping them, when in fact it is raping them out of the best years of their lives. Again, knowledge is important, but not if you're going to pursue a career that doesn't require most of the things you are required to take to graduate high school. But these are just observations based on my school district. I don't get to see much else besides my apartment and school.

[Qwerty Dvorak]

While I'm all for students' rights and unions and whatnot it is important to realize that we're not exactly the most oppressed demographic. I always find it much more convincing when a supposed student representative body openly sympathizes with other unions and movements. A lot of student unions today, though they are useful, can be quit frustrating when they choose their battles; the one we have in TCD, for example, refused to give us signatures so we could set up the Socialist Party society, because they're dominated by Labour Youth and didn't want us taking from their membership. It was complete bullshit, giving a signature only showed that you weren't actively opposed to the group being set up, it doesn't mean you support the group or want to join. We had gotten signatures from members of Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, the Progressive Democrats and the Conservative Party of Northern Ireland. I just think it's pretty hypocritical for a union to support students' rights but then try to stifle political debate and discourse within the university.

[kromando33]

Yeah well in Australia (and at my uni) under the last conservative government compulsary student unionism was abolished, most students are in favor of it because they know the natural benefits it gives, like the union runs the textbook shop as a cooperative, and it's heaps cheaper than buying the stuff commercially (if you could even find the books elsewhere), cheaper bus fairs, they run the cafeteria and organize social events etc.

Their was actually a right-wing student group (well at least the leaders were, the rest were just ignorant tagalongs) who made a support protest for the abolition law (which is set to come back in with the new government), talking about the 'liberty' and 'democratic right' not to pay for unionism, I questioned a few of them and told them of all the ways they have probably benefited from compulsory unionism (because it comes straight out of your fees) but most didn't even know what they stood for, figures.

[Qwerty Dvorak]

Yeah I do realize the benefits that a student union can bring, ours recently had the library opened on Sundays. And the sell cost-price condoms :D