Practicing Democracy: Students Take to the Streets in France

<p><strong>This Week: </strong>Nearly 2000 high schools across France are closed amidst a <a href="https://www.democracynow.org/2026/10/6/france_education_protests"><u>wave of student protest that has taken over the nation</u></a>. Demanding change to dilapidated conditions of school facilities, extreme heat and cold, leaky ceilings, exposure to toxic chemicals in aging buildings, staffing shortages, and more, the student protests have drawn an expanding set of the French population into a larger movement for change.  Of course, violent police crackdowns are now capturing the eyes of the world as more than 5000 students have been arrested, and students have lost body parts, including eyes, limbs, and sustained brutal injuries from police attacks. Meanwhile, here in the land of the free, a <a href="https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/BillSummary.aspx?LegSess=89R&Bill=SB2972"><u>draconian Texas law</u></a> that seeks to ban free speech for any student efforts to challenge the status quo has <a href="https://www.texastribune.org/2026/10/06/texas-college-campus-protest-first-amendment-lawsuit/"><u>wound up in federal court</u></a>. While students practice democracy to force change in France, here in America, even speaking on issues of consequence after 10pm could be a crime. Manuel and Jeff discuss! </p><p><br></p><p><strong>All of the Above was named one of the top podcasts </strong><a href="https://www.millionpodcasts.com/educational-podcasts/#fe_6766400"><strong>on the Best 100 Education Podcasts in the US</strong></a><strong> by MillionPodcasts.com. </strong>Check us out, like, subscribe, and drop a rating :) </p><p><br></p><p><strong>MAXIMUM WOKENESS ALERT -- get your All of the Above swag, including your own “Teach the Truth” shirt! </strong>In this moment of relentless attacks on teaching truth in the classroom, we got you covered. <a href="https://all-of-the-above-store.creator-spring.com/"><u>https://all-of-the-above-store.creator-spring.com</u></a> </p><p><br></p><p><strong>Watch, listen and subscribe to make sure you don&#39;t miss our latest content!</strong></p><p>Listen on <a href="http://apple.co/38QV7Bd"><u>Apple Podcast </u></a>and <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/4NO3FENVr96JJTU4ZjdnCm?si=e8a97242cc7440a0"><u>Spotify</u></a> </p><p>Website: <a href="https://aotashow.com/"><u>https://AOTAshow.com</u></a><br></p>