I was saddened to see the French student protests escalated into violent confrontations. I see no positive outcome in sight. Certainly, the students have reasons to be dissatisfied with the schools. But this is not remotely justified for this level of clashes and disruption. They don’t have a good plan to fix the schools either. There is no more than a laundry list of demands for more expense from a state that’s already broke.
It is a repeat of the failed 2023 pension reform. The old social program is unsustainable. But people vehemently object to any adjustment that would have forestalled the financial disaster even a little bit. What else can we do? France looks really hopeless.
I saw some media pictures of school facilities in poor shape. Worse, they have an absentee teacher problem. Surely, this is not what we expect from great schools. To be honest, United States’ schools have some of the same problems too. Just don’t let our students hear this, or they will want to burn down our cities too.
I reflect on my own school experience in the 80s in the New Asia College. The school was founded in 1949 by Chien Mu and other scholars. They fled the war in China and took refuge in Hong Kong. The school was established in a temporary campus in a poor neighborhood. For the nascent college, funding was a constant issue. Many students were penniless refugees themselves. Despite the difficulties, people brought their passion and determination. New Asia college was established and evolved into the well recognized Chinese University of Hong Kong today.
When I started a generation later, it was already a properly funded University. But being funded is relative. It was still quite basic compared to now. I remember our dormitory building has only four washing machines shared by a hundred students. Don’t count on them working. At any given time, one, two, or even three would be broken. That’s how we live those days.
When I was there, the founders had already moved on. But the founding story lives on. Chien Mu’s legacy is enshrined in the school anthem that he wrote. We sang it in our weekly assembly. “Empty handed, we march on, the long journey through the turmoil, wears our body and tests our resolve…”
I studied science and engineering. Humanity wasn’t my focus. But years after I graduated, it was the founding story that stayed with me. It is about facing impoverishment and difficulties with spirit and determination. It is about not taking what we have for granted. In New Asia College, I have learned the purpose and guiding principle in life.
Coming back to France, I am convinced that money isn’t the solution. What people have actually lost is their purpose and hope.