Politics in schools

Kuwait Times, Wednesday, May 31, 2006
Muna Al-Fuzai

A new ministerial decision was issued to prohibit politics is schools. School kids are not allowed to discuss his thoughts and ideas publicly with students or teachers, or even the principle. Schools are also not allowed to invite thinkers or politicians to speak. Those who ignore the ministerial order will be punished. A new slap to those who call for increased democratic participation.
This nonsense will be our subject today. At a time when all the country is calling for reform and an end to corruption, the Ministry of Education is working on a new plan to limit students' reactions to what they confront day and night.
The youth are the largest group in our society. They have been trying to express and practice their civil rights lately, on different crucial subjects such as changing constituencies. Now they have been punished for that.
In the Middle East, calls for reform are usually treated with suspicion by the authorities, and as calls for aggressive public participation and rebellion against the ruling powers. Most governments fear such calls and rush to squeeze any protest until it dies from the public's fear of punishment.
But as we enjoy a limited amount of freedom in Kuwait and every rock and stone in this country is talking about democracy, why not let those youngsters practice their civil rights in schools with their teachers' supervision -- instead of encouraging them to practice it in basements or unknown areas where terrorists may lurk.
I believe that citizens should be able to present their own ideas freely through public channels in their own country.
The suppression of citizens' civil rights is the main reason for violence, which knows no border, and it can actually spread all over the world to other countries. The Middle East must stop this contradiction: If they want democratic participation, they should implement it. But in reality, they don't.
If people are to present their ideas publicly about what they think of this country, then there is no better place than schools. Here the youth can talk with their teachers or schools guests about their fears and worries.
If they are prevented from doing so, this will create anger and lead to terror and violence. This is what most Western countries are confronting now, because of these contradictory policies and the hypocrisy in the Middle East.
Any small spark will lead to destructive public action because those in their ivory towers don't care about others -- they just care about how long they will stay in power. These students are no less than any other human living in this country, and just because they can't vote, this doesn't make them less than others. They should not be ignored under any circumstances. This decision is wrong and must be cancelled immediately.

munaalfuzai@kuwaittimes.net