During the last two days, there have been a
series of protests in the IFDC (Instituto de Formación Docente Continua) led by
a small group of people who claim for:
- Better studying conditions,
- Better quality of teaching,
- Better working conditions for teachers, and job stability,
- Improvements in the institute’s building; among others.
In order to be heard, this group of students
and teachers staged a sit-in, on Wednesday. Then, yesterday they took over the
building, and prohibited other students and teachers from entering it. Due to
this, and according to what they say, classes an exams will be suspended
until an authority (they ask for the Ministry of Education’s presence) listens
to their demands.
Of course, I do agree with all the things they
demand to be improved, because I’m studying to become a teacher and I would
like to study and work in optimum conditions. However, I strongly disagree with the way these people hold the protest.
Yesterday morning, after having taken over the
building by force, they blocked the doors using some sticks and other elements.
Then, when some students who had already been in the institute wanted to leave
the building, the protesters didn’t allow them to do so. Instead, they told those students that if they wanted to go out, they would have to sign a note that
aimed at supporting their actions. Isn’t it incoherent to claim to be a democratic
person and at the same time, to force others to support your ideas? What I mean
is that we have to be coherent with what we think and the way in which we behave. If not,
what’s the point in complaining about something that WE even do?
What is more, during the whole morning there were
some other violent actions. A pregnant student, who was sitting for an exam,
was taken out from the classroom in such a violent form that she couldn’t help
but crying at the situaton. Then, some people that were afraid of being attacked called the police. But as soon as the police officers arrived, they were sent
out of the building by the protesters, without having the possibility to try to
control the situation.
In the afternoon, since the classrooms were
locked, we had classes at the buffet. While we were there, another student
arrived at the institute, and when she tried to enter, some of the protesters attacked
her with insults.
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| Having classes at the buffet. |
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| Having classes at the buffet. |
I insist on the fact that I DO agree with the
demands they are claiming for, because all of us are going to benefit from
them; however, I don’t accept reaching a goal by means of violence.
These people complain about studying and
working in undemocratic conditions; but at the same time, they are forcing others
to think and behave like they do. Their decisions affect our possibility
to keep on having classes and studying, when they are supposedly fighting for
that.
Certainly, all of us think differently, and I don’t
expect to impose my opinions on the issue. I respect everybody, and everybody’s
points of view, and I expect the same from others. I’m not against claiming for
our rights, I’m against the violence that some people use in order to get what
they want. It’s unbelievable that we still appeal to aggression as a means to achieve a "better world". In my opinion, we should “BE THE PEACE WE SEEK” (Fil Tribble).
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