Education

The International Union of Students (IUS) was joined by regional students\' organizations from around the world for the September 13, 2003 Global Student Day of Action to Defend Public Education. The action was aimed at the World Trade Organization (WTO). Students around the world are calling for all levels of education to be removed from the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS), a set of rules about international trade in the service sector adopted by the WTO. GATS forces developing countries in particular to open public services, health care and public education to privatization by giant corporations.

We live only two generations after racial segregation laws were outlawed in this country. We are only a few more generations removed from chattel slavery. Racial and gender disparities still abound in nearly every aspect of our society. Yet the Supreme Court took up a case this past summer to test the constitutionality of affirmative action in higher education admissions.

Since the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11 much discussion and debate has taken place among educators and on college campuses as to how the US should respond, the history of US foreign policy and whether or not the Bush sdministration�s policies will actually stop terrorism.
The Oakland Education Association (OEA) Executive Board passed a motion Sept. 20 in sympathy with the victims and pledging to be a \"voice for non-violence, defense of democratic rights and civil liberties and resistance to ethnic and religious scapegoat.\"

The United States Student Association (USSA) and its millions of members across the country believe that we all have a responsibility to question the actions of our government. The �war on terrorism� that our government has started has gone unchecked for too long. The casualties of this war are too many to name.