A whole generation is in revolt
against the Ford Tories and their attacks on public education. The
students know that their future is in jeopardy. They’re opposed to the
classroom size increases, the thousands of layoffs, the slashing of
supports for autistic children, the dangerous rollback of the sex-ed
curriculum, and the cancellation of efforts to include more Indigenous
content in schools. OSAP grants for university and college students are
also being cut back.

Back in September, over 40,000 high school students walked out to protest Ford’s cuts to the sex-ed curriculum.
Learning from that experience, student organizers used Instagram and
other social media to coordinate the April 4 protest, even developing an impressive organizing guide to help spread the political message and best organizational practices.

The impact of the protest should not
be underestimated because thousands of others are getting organized to
fight the government’s agenda. The Tories could be in serious trouble
here, but the students can’t win this fight alone.