Why don't our kids kick off like the French ones?
"Leftie educators Bristol Transformed are continuing to ask the big questions of our times: just what is it about the French that makes them fight back so damn hard? And what does it say about the UK that we don't? This informal talk / group discussion will answer all, with a zoomed out view on the history of dissent across the Channel, and the current state of schools that's bringing the kids to the streets."
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An event held at PRSC on Tuesday 17th November. The event starts at 18:30.
Tickets are pay-what-you-can with a minimum donation of £3.50 to help cover venue costs. There are some limited free tickets as well for people who will struggle to contribute this.
- Description -
French high school students are leading the charge against government austerity and state brutality. They’ve experienced crumbling schools during climate breakdown, face the pressures of an elitist education system facing severe teacher shortages and they’re watching the myth of higher education meritocracy fall apart in real time.
But all of this applies to secondary school students over here too! On top of which, they have to pay eye-watering sums for university in a system that will likely soon completely collapse. Where’s the pushback on this side of the Channel? Are British kids just wired differently? Is this all about French history – July 1789, May 1968 – or is that too simplistic? Is there anything we can do as educators to encourage our students to stand up for themselves a bit more?
- Recommended Reading -
Interview with a teacher about the underlying conditions: https://educationpolitics.substack.com/p/a-french-student-revolution?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=453ela
More on the wider political context: https://www.patreon.com/richardseymourwtf/posts/class-appears-171806989?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_fan&utm_content=web_share
Video explainer: https://youtu.be/hAWcxLuqfjg?si=61_8ppnvQo8YzULf
- What to expect -
After a short introductory talk, we will discuss the topic in small groups, with some time to feed back to the whole room.
Most of our events have somewhere between 10-30 attendees.
We aim for every event to be accessible to everyone, regardless of your knowledge of the topic!
- About Bristol Transformed -
Bristol Transformed runs an annual festival of politics, arts and culture in May, and events every Tuesday evening throughout the year. See all our events here: https://hdfst.uk/bristol-transformed 
We are a grassroots, volunteer-run, socialist education group, bringing together activists, trade unionists, and everyone who wants to learn. We're creating the space to discuss the most important issues facing us, equipping people with the skills and knowledge to transform Bristol and the world.
Bristol Transformed is run by dozens of local people. Without new people coming in every year, we wouldn't be able to maintain the same standard of events that you enjoy. If you'd be interested in joining us, sign up as a BT volunteer today! https://cloud.seatable.io/dtable/forms/d3a761c9-4c79-4b10-b38e-50bbad501bcc/
Entry requirements: no age restrictions