Mexican students riot to protest required English classes

Ironically, a major reason for the mass immigration of Mexicans to work in the U.S. is because drought has caused crop failures there. So those in the rural areas who are protesting the teaching of English might end up coming here to work. Although you could say it is poetic justice, since the U.S. is disproportionately responsible for global warming, which is making droughts worse.

http://bigstory.ap.org/article/mexico-raids-seized-campuses-battle-protesters

By MARK STEVENSON — Oct. 15

Police raided three teachers colleges on Monday in the western state of Michoacan, where dozens of students had been hijacking buses and delivery trucks for a week to protest curriculum changes.

Masked protesters battled police with rocks and fireworks. Student involved in the campus takeovers burned a dozen trucks and buses before authorities swept in, detaining 176 strikers. Ten police officers were injured, three seriously, the Michoacan state government reported.

-----

The standoff at the teachers colleges began over a week ago, when students seized the campuses to protest plans to require them to take English and computer science courses. The protesters say the colleges are meant to prepare teachers for rural areas where basic skills are more of a priority.

-----