Comments on: From Toronto to Rome: The Education Situation… http://www.creativeclass.com/_v3/creative_class/2008/11/18/from-toronto-to-rome-the-education-situation/ The source on how we live, work and play Wed, 07 Dec 2011 18:10:07 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Zoe B http://www.creativeclass.com/_v3/creative_class/2008/11/18/from-toronto-to-rome-the-education-situation/comment-page-1/#comment-7763 Zoe B Wed, 19 Nov 2008 18:57:56 +0000 http://www.creativeclass.com/_v3/creative_class/?p=5042#comment-7763 The Italian system of education IS mediocre and deserves some variety of reform. I'm not clear whether the crowds are protesting the idea of raising standards, or lack of a significant and effective strategy for improvement. The Italian system of education IS mediocre and deserves some variety of reform. I’m not clear whether the crowds are protesting the idea of raising standards, or lack of a significant and effective strategy for improvement.

]]> By: Daniel Carins http://www.creativeclass.com/_v3/creative_class/2008/11/18/from-toronto-to-rome-the-education-situation/comment-page-1/#comment-7747 Daniel Carins Wed, 19 Nov 2008 12:04:33 +0000 http://www.creativeclass.com/_v3/creative_class/?p=5042#comment-7747 In my limited understanding of Italian politics, I know that Silvio Berlusconi's government is distinctively aggressive to immigrants (especially against Roma), the southern regions and to the EU - he controls most of the country's media, and is a considerable embarrassment to the EU's position when chastising other nations for corruption. And he has had plastic surgery. In other words, perhaps the protests in Rome are fuelled and inflamed by popular / left-wing resentment at his ridiculous regime, and may explain why the students' cause is gaining popular support. In my limited understanding of Italian politics, I know that Silvio Berlusconi’s government is distinctively aggressive to immigrants (especially against Roma), the southern regions and to the EU – he controls most of the country’s media, and is a considerable embarrassment to the EU’s position when chastising other nations for corruption. And he has had plastic surgery.

In other words, perhaps the protests in Rome are fuelled and inflamed by popular / left-wing resentment at his ridiculous regime, and may explain why the students’ cause is gaining popular support.

]]> By: Matt http://www.creativeclass.com/_v3/creative_class/2008/11/18/from-toronto-to-rome-the-education-situation/comment-page-1/#comment-7733 Matt Tue, 18 Nov 2008 21:50:18 +0000 http://www.creativeclass.com/_v3/creative_class/?p=5042#comment-7733 There have been larger-scale protests around education in Ontario, e.g. the "Days of Action" during the Mike Harris era. I think there was much more at stake back then, and the public took notice. But the perception now is that the system is running reasonably well -- unlike in Italy -- and even a long strike at York probably isn't enough to shake that perception. Obviously it has a major impact on York students, but otherwise 3% vs. 5.5% a year seems like a pretty run-of-the-mill labour dispute to me. There have been larger-scale protests around education in Ontario, e.g. the “Days of Action” during the Mike Harris era. I think there was much more at stake back then, and the public took notice. But the perception now is that the system is running reasonably well — unlike in Italy — and even a long strike at York probably isn’t enough to shake that perception. Obviously it has a major impact on York students, but otherwise 3% vs. 5.5% a year seems like a pretty run-of-the-mill labour dispute to me.

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