Student organizations in Canada and Quebec's ‘Maple Spring’

Reconceptualizing Our Work: The Connection Between ECE Students and Political Action

“…Historically, student activists have made significant contributions to broader social movements around the world (Altbach, 1989;Bégin-Caouette & Jones, 2014;Broadhurst & Martin, 2014;Linder & Rodriguez, 2012;Quarter, 1972;Rhoads, 2016;Winston, 2013). Due to their substantial impact, researchers have studied student groups to identify features that distinguish them from other social activists and to document factors that relate to their success (Altbach, 1989;Bégin-Caouette & Jones, 2014;Broadhurst & Martin, 2014). Eric Swank (2012) suggests that the success of student movements may be related to the resources available through campus organizations and the flexibility of student schedules.…”

“…Canada has a long history of student activism (Bégin-Caouette & Jones, 2014), yet early childhood education (ECE) students have been largely absent from the Canadian child care advocacy movement. Although ECE students are often aware of the forthcoming low wages and poor working conditions inherent in their chosen profession (Flanagan et al, 2013;Ferns et al, 2014), they are typically divorced from child care advocacy efforts.…”

Democratically Engaged Youth: Countering the Framing and Containing of Youth in Popular Discourses

“…The successful 2012 Quebec student protests that resulted in the resignation of the Liberal government were mobilized through information campaigns and situated within a socio-political context that values democratic access to education (Bégin-Caouette & Jones, 2014). Prior to the strikes that involved over 300, 000 university students, coalitions were formed in order to inform students, begin mobilizing the student body, and develop political action plans (Bégin-Caouette & Jones, 2014). During the months of student strikes various strategies were employed to keep the media spotlight including the use of mass and social media, theatre performances in public Democratically Engaged Youth spaces, decorating "trees with red banners…sewing groups, backward walks, and symbolic weddings" (Bégin-Caouette & Jones, 2014, p. 417).…”

“…During the months of student strikes various strategies were employed to keep the media spotlight including the use of mass and social media, theatre performances in public Democratically Engaged Youth spaces, decorating "trees with red banners…sewing groups, backward walks, and symbolic weddings" (Bégin-Caouette & Jones, 2014, p. 417). American filmmaker Michael Moore used his twitter account to call for international support and inspired staged walks in four American cities in solidarity with the Quebec student protests (Bégin-Caouette & Jones, 2014). The ongoing media and international attention placed significant pressure on the Liberal government that led to their resignation and the election of the Parti Québécois who then rolled back tuition fee increases.…”

Juste part, boycott et loi spéciale. Le cadrage gouvernemental d'un printemps de crise sociale

“…En mars 2011, le ministre des Finances du Québec Raymond Bachand annonce dans son budget l'intention du gouvernement de hausser les frais de scolarité universitaires de 1 625 $ sur cinq ans, et ce, dès l'automne 2012. Il provoque alors ce qui deviendra le plus grand mouvement protestataire étudiant de toute l'histoire québécoise et canadienne (Bégin-Caouette et Jones, 2014; Lambert, 2014; Savard et Cyr, 2014 : 50; Theurillat-Cloutier et coll., 2014 : 26). Durant les mois qui suivent, les associations étudiantes collégiales et universitaires mobilisent leurs membres pour en arriver, dans une logique d'escalade des moyens de pression, au déclenchement d'une grève générale illimitée dès les premières semaines de février 2012.…”