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Paris Protests - Should UK follow suit?

133 replies

blinkblinkblinkblink · 08/10/2026 15:39

I am following the coverage of the Paris education protests with interest. A lot of the triggers are failures the UK education system are making too (or at least GB, Im not so sure on N.Ire).

AIBU to think if the Paris Protests are successful, the UK should follow suit?

Our children deserve so much better!

OP posts:
TimeFlysWhenYoureHavingRum · 10/10/2026 10:54

RedLeicesterBlueCheese · 09/10/2026 23:02

How on Earth did they create an ageing population?

Getting older is just that, people are getting older despite Covid, actually. Would you have preferred it for the older people to have died from in?

And Brexit might be blamed for lots of things bur it didn’t make anyone age prematurely.

Immigration has been off the charts. You might want to keep importing young people, but they come with dependents attached and they get older, too.

Honestly, some posts might benefit from a bit of common sense.

The so called "baby boom" generation (so called because people had lots of babies after WW2) are a large cohort and they are living longer (which is a good thing of course!). It is however getting increasingly expensive to pay for their increasing health care needs and pensions.
People are having fewer children due to stagnant wages caused by by the lack of economic growth since 2008.
We need more people working to pay taxes to fund the pensions bill but governments have actively reduced immigration while failing to unskill the existing population.
And nobody wants to pay more tax.
All this is the totally predictable outcome of what the Tories policies were going to lead to. But we kept voting for it.
Yes other international factors are involved (not least covid) but the main reason we have no money for anything now is largely because of choices made in the 2010s.

Hoardasurass · 10/10/2026 11:02

blinkblinkblinkblink · 08/10/2026 15:39

I am following the coverage of the Paris education protests with interest. A lot of the triggers are failures the UK education system are making too (or at least GB, Im not so sure on N.Ire).

AIBU to think if the Paris Protests are successful, the UK should follow suit?

Our children deserve so much better!

So yo agree with rioting and using aerosol cans and lighters as improvised flamethrower and burning random women in the face, pouring petrol over teachers when they are trying to put out fires started by rioters and setting fire to schools entrances and exits with pupils trapped inside and burning firemen.
Could you please explain how any of that is a good thing or how it will improve education for kids?
Honestly you should think about what you are supporting before posting idiotic threads like this and making yourself look either stupid or psychotic

RedLeicesterBlueCheese · 10/10/2026 11:05

TimeFlysWhenYoureHavingRum · 10/10/2026 10:54

The so called "baby boom" generation (so called because people had lots of babies after WW2) are a large cohort and they are living longer (which is a good thing of course!). It is however getting increasingly expensive to pay for their increasing health care needs and pensions.
People are having fewer children due to stagnant wages caused by by the lack of economic growth since 2008.
We need more people working to pay taxes to fund the pensions bill but governments have actively reduced immigration while failing to unskill the existing population.
And nobody wants to pay more tax.
All this is the totally predictable outcome of what the Tories policies were going to lead to. But we kept voting for it.
Yes other international factors are involved (not least covid) but the main reason we have no money for anything now is largely because of choices made in the 2010s.

We don’t need more people.
We need higher productivity.

Importing millions of workers who end up on benefits and who bring their dependent family here while taxing the shit out of everyone who is still contributing is what is depressing the economy.

Newnameeooo · 10/10/2026 11:11

Doesn’t sound like our schools are anything like theirs.

They cite not having enough chairs, ceilings fallen down, rats everywhere, no heating, no aircon in 35+ heat. School 8-8.

We could do with aircon. I am not aware the other issues are widespread in uk.

boredsmored · 10/10/2026 11:15

RedLeicesterBlueCheese · 10/10/2026 11:05

We don’t need more people.
We need higher productivity.

Importing millions of workers who end up on benefits and who bring their dependent family here while taxing the shit out of everyone who is still contributing is what is depressing the economy.

How do you increase productivity with an ageing population?

RedLeicesterBlueCheese · 10/10/2026 11:26

boredsmored · 10/10/2026 11:15

How do you increase productivity with an ageing population?

How do you increase it with millions of migrants on benefits?

How do you increase it when the benefit bill is higher than the income tax revenue?

What do you want to do with the older generation? Bump
them off is not really practical.

Boppydoodah · 10/10/2026 11:33

I sometimes really wonder about civics education. Protests are a vital part of democracy, akin to voting and a free press. As OP has said, there is a difference between protests and riots, and it appears the majority of people involved in France are exercising their democratic rights and responsibilities as citizens.

Elections cost an enormous amount of money, but we still run them. We don't say - nah, not this year, the books are a bit tight and the public is a bit too unruly to have them. It'll just take money from other things. There's no point, it won't change anything. The public are too stupid to vote, and hey someone might get hurt in the process. Etc. Suppression of protests, just like suppression of voting or suppression of the press, is not a good thing.

Sometimes I wonder what the "don't make a fuss" crowd would actually stand up against. You might not think education matters so much or that protests will help in this case - fine. But would you protest if the state was abducting and disappearing your neighbors without due process (happening in the US)? How about racial profiling and abuse or worse, state-sanctioned lynchings? Would you stand up for reproductive rights, or for the right of girls to say no? Would you protest to retain clean drinking water for your family or against state torture of inmates? What would it actually take, or would you always, always turn a blind eye and say it's not worth the potential risk and property damage? History doesn't shine too kindly on those people.

The French students are engaged in the democratic process. You might think they're stupid, but that's on you. At least they care enough to take a stand. Democracy isn't the default ruling system by a long shot, we would do very well to remember that and protect the mechanisms which ensure its survival - of which the right protest and petition your leaders is very much one.

boredsmored · 10/10/2026 11:47

How do you increase it with millions of migrants on benefits?

Are you confusing me with another poster, I haven’t said anything about immigration.

How do you increase it when the benefit bill is higher than the income tax revenue?

And an ageing population is of no context to this point?

What do you want to do with the older generation? Bump them off is not really practical.

Why would that be your solution?

But back to your point how are you increasing productivity with our current demographics?

RedLeicesterBlueCheese · 10/10/2026 11:48

boredsmored · 10/10/2026 11:47

How do you increase it with millions of migrants on benefits?

Are you confusing me with another poster, I haven’t said anything about immigration.

How do you increase it when the benefit bill is higher than the income tax revenue?

And an ageing population is of no context to this point?

What do you want to do with the older generation? Bump them off is not really practical.

Why would that be your solution?

But back to your point how are you increasing productivity with our current demographics?

Cut tax, cut benefits, cut low skilled immigration.

boredsmored · 10/10/2026 11:49

which taxes & which benefits?

RedLeicesterBlueCheese · 10/10/2026 11:54

boredsmored · 10/10/2026 11:49

which taxes & which benefits?

Across the board.

Happy?

EmmaOfNormandy · 10/10/2026 11:56

blinkblinkblinkblink · 08/10/2026 15:39

I am following the coverage of the Paris education protests with interest. A lot of the triggers are failures the UK education system are making too (or at least GB, Im not so sure on N.Ire).

AIBU to think if the Paris Protests are successful, the UK should follow suit?

Our children deserve so much better!

Expecting the UK to follow suit in what another European c.ountry is doing suggests the OP hasn't lived in England long

PacificDinner · 10/10/2026 11:59

Massive destruction of property, human injuries, more strain on the system which is underfunded due to France’s massive debt.

No, we should not follow the French on this.

England, sadly not Scotland or Wales, is very high on the PISA scale. We are actually doing extremely well and shouldn’t spoil it for our young people.

Anarchy99 · 10/10/2026 12:01

Boppydoodah · 10/10/2026 11:33

I sometimes really wonder about civics education. Protests are a vital part of democracy, akin to voting and a free press. As OP has said, there is a difference between protests and riots, and it appears the majority of people involved in France are exercising their democratic rights and responsibilities as citizens.

Elections cost an enormous amount of money, but we still run them. We don't say - nah, not this year, the books are a bit tight and the public is a bit too unruly to have them. It'll just take money from other things. There's no point, it won't change anything. The public are too stupid to vote, and hey someone might get hurt in the process. Etc. Suppression of protests, just like suppression of voting or suppression of the press, is not a good thing.

Sometimes I wonder what the "don't make a fuss" crowd would actually stand up against. You might not think education matters so much or that protests will help in this case - fine. But would you protest if the state was abducting and disappearing your neighbors without due process (happening in the US)? How about racial profiling and abuse or worse, state-sanctioned lynchings? Would you stand up for reproductive rights, or for the right of girls to say no? Would you protest to retain clean drinking water for your family or against state torture of inmates? What would it actually take, or would you always, always turn a blind eye and say it's not worth the potential risk and property damage? History doesn't shine too kindly on those people.

The French students are engaged in the democratic process. You might think they're stupid, but that's on you. At least they care enough to take a stand. Democracy isn't the default ruling system by a long shot, we would do very well to remember that and protect the mechanisms which ensure its survival - of which the right protest and petition your leaders is very much one.

What ‘civics education’?

So because some of the people are protesting peacefully, do we need to just accept that there will always be the violent element (Some of whom
believe in the cause every bit as much as the peaceful element)?

Is this the price we have to pay for ‘democracy’?

Because costing the state the extra for policing and damage repair does seem to defeat the object of it. So yes. They are stupid.

It is interesting that people on here claim to believe in a free press but then post about some channels or news outlets shouldn’t be allowed.

blinkblinkblinkblink · 10/10/2026 12:18

RedLeicesterBlueCheese · 10/10/2026 11:48

Cut tax, cut benefits, cut low skilled immigration.

See, I strongly believe that this is what's wrong with politics. Short term solutions that gain short term popularity. Cutting taxes and benefits might win votes but its not going to help the future of the country.

We need long term solutions. And the most productive solution is investing in education. A more educated population means more people in work, so less people on benefits and more tax income (even if they tax was lower). A more educated population results in lower crime and lower prison population - less spending. A more educated population reduces health and social care costs.

Standing up for education is the single best thing we can do to better the future economy.

OP posts:
RedLeicesterBlueCheese · 10/10/2026 12:20

blinkblinkblinkblink · 10/10/2026 12:18

See, I strongly believe that this is what's wrong with politics. Short term solutions that gain short term popularity. Cutting taxes and benefits might win votes but its not going to help the future of the country.

We need long term solutions. And the most productive solution is investing in education. A more educated population means more people in work, so less people on benefits and more tax income (even if they tax was lower). A more educated population results in lower crime and lower prison population - less spending. A more educated population reduces health and social care costs.

Standing up for education is the single best thing we can do to better the future economy.

And your solution would be rioting and destruction?

blinkblinkblinkblink · 10/10/2026 12:22

RedLeicesterBlueCheese · 10/10/2026 12:20

And your solution would be rioting and destruction?

Again....riot is not a synonym for protest.

OP posts:
PacificDinner · 10/10/2026 12:25

blinkblinkblinkblink · 10/10/2026 12:22

Again....riot is not a synonym for protest.

True. What is happening in France is riots.

Hoardasurass · 10/10/2026 12:26

blinkblinkblinkblink · 10/10/2026 12:22

Again....riot is not a synonym for protest.

But they aren't protesting they are rioting

EasternStandard · 10/10/2026 12:38

PacificDinner · 10/10/2026 11:59

Massive destruction of property, human injuries, more strain on the system which is underfunded due to France’s massive debt.

No, we should not follow the French on this.

England, sadly not Scotland or Wales, is very high on the PISA scale. We are actually doing extremely well and shouldn’t spoil it for our young people.

Good to see re the scores. For England anyway.

EasternStandard · 10/10/2026 12:41

TimeFlysWhenYoureHavingRum · 10/10/2026 10:54

The so called "baby boom" generation (so called because people had lots of babies after WW2) are a large cohort and they are living longer (which is a good thing of course!). It is however getting increasingly expensive to pay for their increasing health care needs and pensions.
People are having fewer children due to stagnant wages caused by by the lack of economic growth since 2008.
We need more people working to pay taxes to fund the pensions bill but governments have actively reduced immigration while failing to unskill the existing population.
And nobody wants to pay more tax.
All this is the totally predictable outcome of what the Tories policies were going to lead to. But we kept voting for it.
Yes other international factors are involved (not least covid) but the main reason we have no money for anything now is largely because of choices made in the 2010s.

You won’t have more money with the high spend, high tax model. You’ll have higher borrowing and debt servicing. Which is what’s strangling France rn. They can’t do much about the protests funding wise.

Adding more o/s labour is a short term boost, you keep having to up it as they get old. So how would you get out of that cycle?

Anarchy99 · 10/10/2026 12:45

blinkblinkblinkblink · 10/10/2026 12:22

Again....riot is not a synonym for protest.

Apparently it is. Even if peaceful (which it never is), it still costs to police. Money which could be used for other things.

Or should they shove taxes up so that everyone has to pay for these idiots?

RedLeicesterBlueCheese · 10/10/2026 12:48

blinkblinkblinkblink · 10/10/2026 12:22

Again....riot is not a synonym for protest.

What is happening in France now?

Anarchy99 · 10/10/2026 12:50

blinkblinkblinkblink · 10/10/2026 12:18

See, I strongly believe that this is what's wrong with politics. Short term solutions that gain short term popularity. Cutting taxes and benefits might win votes but its not going to help the future of the country.

We need long term solutions. And the most productive solution is investing in education. A more educated population means more people in work, so less people on benefits and more tax income (even if they tax was lower). A more educated population results in lower crime and lower prison population - less spending. A more educated population reduces health and social care costs.

Standing up for education is the single best thing we can do to better the future economy.

But people are supposedly better educated than ever and more people go to uni so why are so many kids NEET?

Anarchy99 · 10/10/2026 12:51

blinkblinkblinkblink · 10/10/2026 12:18

See, I strongly believe that this is what's wrong with politics. Short term solutions that gain short term popularity. Cutting taxes and benefits might win votes but its not going to help the future of the country.

We need long term solutions. And the most productive solution is investing in education. A more educated population means more people in work, so less people on benefits and more tax income (even if they tax was lower). A more educated population results in lower crime and lower prison population - less spending. A more educated population reduces health and social care costs.

Standing up for education is the single best thing we can do to better the future economy.

If you think they are so right then by all means go over and support them.

Personally I would rather not see even more public money being wasted on this.

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