Strike Two!

Since Katie is unable to get to work on days of the strike, she headed downtown to see what actually happens: when the French strike.

With a strike this big, groups from many different types of work coordinate to all go on strike at once including transportation, education, and many more - meaning that things just shut down or businesses/schools (like mine) that are open are empty and quiet.



If the pictures weren't good enough, below are some videos of what was going on.

Strike! Strike! Strike!

Strike! Strike! Strike!

Yesterday morning, I woke up and got ready to go to work. I was getting ready to walk out the door when Katie and I heard what sounded like an army of car horns. At first, I thought there must have been an accident. Katie and I poked our heads out the window and found that there was a parade of sign-covered cars all filled with protesting students honking their horns for their cause. To our surprise, the strike actually worked! Kinda. The government decided to postpone the vote to change the school system for one year (meaning that assistants next year will see the same thing).

Turn on your speakers, sit back, and watch the French at their best! ;)

The French national pastime...

Strike! Strike! Strike!

This is what greeted me as I crossed the bridge on my bike trying to go to work...

So, who's on strike this time, you may ask?

OUR STUDENTS!!!

I found out about the start of the strike last Thursday, when I went to work, set up the chairs in a cute little semi-circle (to encourage conversation) and waited...not noticing the errily empty hallways... Needless to say, it was a no-show.

Monday, I worked with a few teachers in class sizes at an ideal 6-7 :)...Tuesday, the same, and Wednesday was when I finally remembered to take my camera with me, and this is what I got on a dying battery. I was so glad I had it with me!

(ben's students)
I've been asking everyone I can, "Just what exactly are they striking?" Most of the students don't really know...or know how to explain. The teachers haven't been too clear, although this is what I've put together for their tidbits of explanations: The gov't wants to make changes from the primary level through high school...in high school specifically, changing from the more "specialized" course-paths (kinda like college in US, where you concentrate in a certain area) to a generic education, aka less options=less need for certain teachers=bigger classes=lost jobs=gov't saves money=many frenchies very unhappy with their gov't that's not able to provide the jobs and education opportunities they need to inspire their students that there's a point to studying hard, getting good "marks," and passing the BAC (highschool exit exam) to get a job and gagner sa vie -earn a living.