Online Encyclopedia

Student activism

Youth activism in schools simply called student activism. Movements in this area vary widely in subject, size, and success, with all kinds of students in all kinds of educational settings participating. Popular issues include student voice, student rights, school funding, anti-racism in education, tuition increases (in colleges), and many other areas.

Contents

1 History

2 Some project articles

3 Some instrumental figures

4 External links

History

Student activism dates to the beginning of public education, if not before. The best historical documentation comes from the 1930s. The American Youth Congress was a student-led organization in Washington, DC, which lobbied the US Congress against racial discrimination and for youth programs. It was heavily supported by First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt.

The 1960s were a heyday for student activism. One highlight of this period was Students for a Democratic Society (SDS), a student-led organization (that eventually spun off the Weather Underground). Another successful group was Ann Arbor Youth Liberation. These successful campaigns ended in the 1970s. Also notable was the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee.

The ushering in of the neoliberal policies of Bill Clinton led to an insurgence of populist student activism in the 1990s. Students began to rally against the new Military-industrial complex and fight the corporatization and militarization of schools. At the same time, student activism matured, fighting for larger causes such as community decay and social degradation.

Today student activism stands as a testament against the negative views of young people perpetuated by mainstream media. By addressing a wide gamut of issues, student activists are finding success as never before. Campaigns against sweatshop labor , the defunding of public schools, increased tutions at colleges, and dozens of other issues are underway.