I spoke about the newspaper to a couple classmates of mine that attend my high school, and despite expressing their hesitancy to the idea of “communism” told me they were very interested in reading the newspaper. I took 10 newspapers with me the following Monday and sold six nearly on the spot. I even sold two to teachers!
My school held a student walkout in the wake of the UCP forcing teachers back to work that I led, which had a significant turnout. The revolutionary mood was strong among the students, we even had university and junior high students join us! After the walkout, talking to students about the paper, it became very clear that there’s a growing amount of young folks and teens that are (at the very least) interested in a Marxist perspective on current events as well as expressing a hunger for revolutionary ideas; especially after the UCP in Alberta invoked the notwithstanding clause to force teachers back to work AND the ATA capitulating. Many students are disillusioned, and are losing faith in “the democratic system” that they truly believed was supposed to help them. The ATA is seeking to challenge the legislation in court, and says over and over that the fight has just begun, but there is a huge sense of betrayal amongst not just teachers, but students as well. It’s clear to them that writing to their MLAs simply isn’t enough, and hasn’t been for quite a long time. I have more students/teachers interested in getting newspapers from me, so much so I’ll be bringing ten more copies with me this following week!
Marina B., Calgary
