Democracy Gone Astray

Democracy, being a human construct, needs to be thought of as directionality rather than an object. As such, to understand it requires not so much a description of existing structures and/or other related phenomena but a declaration of intentionality.
This blog aims at creating labeled lists of published infringements of such intentionality, of points in time where democracy strays from its intended directionality. In addition to outright infringements, this blog also collects important contemporary information and/or discussions that impact our socio-political landscape.

All the posts here were published in the electronic media – main-stream as well as fringe, and maintain links to the original texts.

[NOTE: Due to changes I haven't caught on time in the blogging software, all of the 'Original Article' links were nullified between September 11, 2012 and December 11, 2012. My apologies.]

Wednesday, October 03, 2012

Students lengthen walkout to two days

About 35 students at Winona Drive Senior Public School refused to attend class for two days — longer than most student rallies — to oppose the fact their teachers have stopped coaching sports to protest the province’s unpopular wage freeze law that curbs teachers’ bargaining rights.

While most were expected to return to class Wednesday, “we’re hoping to try to do something more organized next week to show we don’t like being kids caught in the middle,” said Talia Duarte, 13, a Grade 8 student at the school near St. Clair Ave. and Oakwood Ave. Friend Sarah Kuburi, 12, said “we should get our extracurriculars back if other schools still have them.”

Some 200 students stayed outside Monday “in a respectful protest against the legislation and the lack of extracurriculars,” said Principal David Ehrlich. He sent a letter to parents noting that, “while we understand students want their collective voice heard on this issue, it is also important that students understand the expectation that they attend all of their classes while at school.”

When about 70 students continued to stay out of school Tuesday, Ehrlich and the vice-principal consulted their parents by phone. About 35 students got their parents’ blessing to continue to stay outside, but Ehrlich said he has encouraged the young activists to look for ways to voice their concerns while returning to class.

Teachers at about half the elementary schools across the GTA have taken an indefinite “pause” from running after-school programs to protest the imposition of Ontario’s new Putting Students First Act, which removes teachers’ right to strike for two years.

Many schools were unable to take part Tuesday in a meet at Toronto’s Centennial Park and Ashbridge’s Bay because their teams were not registered, often for lack of coaches.

Original Article
Source: the star
Author: Louise Brown

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