Protesting Education by Cutting Class

During the course of the morning yesterday, groups of students marched around the Frederick Douglass Academy in Detroit. They were accompanied by several adults, and they chanted, "What do we want? Education! When do we want it? Now!". This during school hours.

We do not know why they were walking along around the school. But we do not have to know. The fascinating irony of the situation is more compelling than whatever it is they were actually protesting about or for. They want education. They want it now.

And they're willing to skip school to get it.

We doubt very seriously their sincerity on the matter. It would have been more impressive if they had gathered on a Saturday or even after classes were over and made their protest then. On their own time. But we know enough about school age people to know that the bulk of them almost surely didn't really care about whatever it was they were marching about. They were getting out of class, and that's what mattered.

Their voices died out quickly. Their chanting was strong at first but faded fast. By the second loop of the building only a few were chanting, and then with no regularity; the majority talked and joked and laughed among themselves. Yet they still marched. Their protest for education, whatever they might actually mean by that (an interesting question in itself), was apparently short lived.

But they got of class, and that likely sated their desire.

There is no need to take them seriously. They were likely being led by somebody, some presumed adults who felt that a protest was necessary. A teachable moment, as the educators say.

It is doubtful they learned anything but self aggrandizement. It is a lesson which will not help them in life. But it tells us all we need to know about the public schools and the brand of education they sell.