The Montreal Student Riots

[Stranger]

I think its going on 27 days now and I haven't seen a thread.

Is this even about tuition hikes anymore? And I see Michael Moore has got behind the protesters now.

[Dogbert]

Originally Posted by Stranger

I think its going on 27 days now and I haven't seen a thread.

Is this even about tuition hikes anymore? And I see Michael Moore has got behind the protesters now.

As I understand it, a bunch of different groups protesting different things have been joining the tuition hike demonstrations to get their own opinions out there. Everything from anti-corruption and anti-war groups to anarchists and racists are showing up.

Frankly, though, it should be about tuition hikes. I know many people in Montreal and the majority are fully behind the government hiking rates and silencing the protests, but all of those people have never been to - or paid for - university. They don't get that it's not about THIS hike, but about all the others that will surely happen if students let this slide.

[LGA]

Oh those crazy Quebecers. "We're paying about half of what the rest of Canada pays for University education!!! That is simply too much!!!! Riot!!!"

They should include the costs of the riots into the tuition hikes.

[icecube]

If they're paying half the cost of tuition as the rest of Canada, then maybe they're on to something.

[Methanolic]

Brats!

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally Posted by Stranger

And I see Michael Moore has got behind the protesters now.

Another strike against.

[Canuck-Hater]

They have had such a good education system for so long I just see as them standing up for it. I wish Calgarian students would do this especially with the outrageous tuition in Alberta. Im the kind of person that believes everyone should have access to affordable education.

[CaptainCrunch]

Both sides are really wrong here, Quebec's government is both incompetent and corrupt, but they've also spoiled their population by creating massive social program spending.

The Montreal Protestors are wrong, they have a right to strike or protest, but what they don't have a right to is violent protest, or to go into schools and drag students out that want to work.

I honestly think that they should set a deadline for the students to return to school, if they don't they fail and lose all of their credits and either get banned permanently from any educational institution across this country or can re-enter school if they are willing to pay unsubsidized tuition for your degree in advance.

For non students that do violent acts during a protest, 5 years in a prison hard labor work program.

Oh and the Quebec government should start reverse negotiating, every time the protestors refuse an offer they increase tuition.

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by Canuck-Hater

They have had such a good education system for so long I just see as them standing up for it. I wish Calgarian students would do this especially with the outrageous tuition in Alberta. Im the kind of person that believes everyone should have access to affordable education.

I'm all for affordable tuition, that's why Canada is great, tuition is affordable. But I think that tuition has to be charged, its a small price to pay for the rewards that you receive. Plus students should feel good about paying it because it will allow tuition to keep being reasonable and allow for future investment in the development of these educational institution.

[RougeUnderoos]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

I'm all for affordable tuition, that's why Canada is great, tuition is affordable. But I think that tuition has to be charged, its a small price to pay for the rewards that you receive. Plus students should feel good about paying it because it will allow tuition to keep being reasonable and allow for future investment in the development of these educational institution.

I haven't been paying attention. Are these people demanding free university education?

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by RougeUnderoos

I haven't been paying attention. Are these people demanding free university education?

There's a sub group among the student protestors that has a stance on free post secondary education.

[Lobotroth]

I lost sympathy for these "kids" when they disrupted the students that just wanted to go to school to work and learn.

[Devils'Advocate]

Originally Posted by icecube

If they're paying half the cost of tuition as the rest of Canada, then maybe they're on to something.

I don't know why there isn't more of an uproar in English Canada. Maybe because we see that things could be worse. Canada's tuition rates are much lower than our neighbours to the south. In Australia tuition was free until 1988. Now it's, on average, $10,000 USD per year. Whereas here it's a $9,000 USD charge. Quebec on the other hand, look at France or Sweden or other countries where tuition is even lower. The students in Quebec are willing to take to the streets and protest while everywhere else in Canada we'd have these nice little demonstrations about tuition fees, then we'd go home after an hour of having our due diligence and then resign ourselves to paying more.

Personally, I think that there needs to be more merit based scholarships. I had an A- average, but I think I could have done better if I hadn't been working 30 hours a week selling shoes at Kmart to pay tuition, books, lab fees, transportation, meals, etc, etc.. I suppose I could have gotten a student loan, but I look at the situation my sister-in-law was in where she graduated $50,000 in the hole. It's daunting to just be getting your first real job owing that much money. So raise the price of tuition up to $15,000, but take $5,000 and make it into scholarship money for those with high enough marks. And don't go doing what they did with my brother and give him $25,000 a year because he's a brainiac even though his total costs were $20,000 and he spent the rest on video games and PC equipment. Spread it around to those in that A- range so we don't need to work so many hours at minimum wage jobs and can put more time into our studies. And maybe if there is a higher cost, but more scholarships, maybe we won't see as many students spend their first two years partying it up and getting lousy grades.

I know this thread is likely to end up just with Quebec bashing as most dealing with the province do, but I think the issue of education costs and accessibility to higher education is an important issue across the country.

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by Lobotroth

I lost sympathy for these "kids" when they disrupted the students that just wanted to go to school to work and learn.

Honestly if I was a student that just wanted to go to school I'd be carrying pepper spray and a collapsible riot baton.

The first time one of those stinking punks touches me, he's going to be bruised and smelling like a spicy enchilada.

Oh and I'd also spray paint a picture of a d0uchbag on their back.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by Devils'Advocate

The students in Quebec are willing to take to the streets and protest while everywhere else in Canada we'd have these nice little demonstrations about tuition fees, then we'd go home after an hour of having our due diligence and then resign ourselves to paying more.

It's Quebec. They riot for the sake of rioting, not because of the cause.

I might give a damn what they are spoiling their diapers over if it wasn't for a major case of 'boy who cried wolf' syndrome.

[4X4]

Originally Posted by Lobotroth

I lost sympathy for these "kids" when they disrupted the students that just wanted to go to school to work and learn.

They're even more pathetic than the occupiers. Disrupting a class is reason to get smacked the ##### up as far as I'm concerned.

[Flash Walken]

Just what a society consistently facing ever increasing levels of stupidity needs: financial obstacles towards education.

At this point it's a foregone conclusion that the greater access to education a population has, the better and more stable the economy of their local municipality, state/province and country.

Like another poster said, maybe they're onto something here?

[Flash Walken]

Originally Posted by 4X4

They're even more pathetic than the occupiers. Disrupting a class is reason to get smacked the ##### up as far as I'm concerned.

Militant Education!

[4X4]

Originally Posted by Devils'Advocate

I don't know why there isn't more of an uproar in English Canada. Maybe because we see that things could be worse. Canada's tuition rates are much lower than our neighbours to the south. In Australia tuition was free until 1988. Now it's, on average, $10,000 USD per year. Whereas here it's a $9,000 USD charge. Quebec on the other hand, look at France or Sweden or other countries where tuition is even lower. The students in Quebec are willing to take to the streets and protest while everywhere else in Canada we'd have these nice little demonstrations about tuition fees, then we'd go home after an hour of having our due diligence and then resign ourselves to paying more.

Personally, I think that there needs to be more merit based scholarships. I had an A- average, but I think I could have done better if I hadn't been working 30 hours a week selling shoes at Kmart to pay tuition, books, lab fees, transportation, meals, etc, etc.. I suppose I could have gotten a student loan, but I look at the situation my sister-in-law was in where she graduated $50,000 in the hole. It's daunting to just be getting your first real job owing that much money. So raise the price of tuition up to $15,000, but take $5,000 and make it into scholarship money for those with high enough marks. And don't go doing what they did with my brother and give him $25,000 a year because he's a brainiac even though his total costs were $20,000 and he spent the rest on video games and PC equipment. Spread it around to those in that A- range so we don't need to work so many hours at minimum wage jobs and can put more time into our studies. And maybe if there is a higher cost, but more scholarships, maybe we won't see as many students spend their first two years partying it up and getting lousy grades.

I know this thread is likely to end up just with Quebec bashing as most dealing with the province do, but I think the issue of education costs and accessibility to higher education is an important issue across the country.

You poor darling, having to get your hands all dirty working at kmart and lugging a textbook to study on your break. 30 hours per week? What's the matter? Not enough time to sleep or get drunk?

[RougeUnderoos]

Originally Posted by 4X4

You poor darling, having to get your hands all dirty working at kmart and lugging a textbook to study on your break. 30 hours per week? What's the matter? Not enough time to sleep or get drunk?

The way I read it, he said he could have done better in school if he didn't have to work 30 hours a week at a terrible job. I didn't see anything about "not enough time to sleep or get drunk".

In fact, here it is exactly:

"I had an A- average, but I think I could have done better if I hadn't been working 30 hours a week selling shoes at Kmart..."