French Students March to Protest School Conditions
Thousands of students, some hurling eggs and others smashing windows, marched nationwide Friday in the largest protests in two weeks of strikes over violence and overcrowding in French high schools.
Prime Minister Michel Rocard promised to create thousands of new jobs to improve crumbling, crime-ridden high schools. But a student leader said Rocard had failed to address basic demands for more teachers and security guards.
“What we are asking for is to have toilets where we can go without being hassled by five guys,” said one Paris student, a 16-year-old girl.
After listening to a delegation of student leaders, Rocard issued a statement pledging to create 6,000 new slots for teacher assistants and 3,000 monitors. He also promised 1,000 new maintenance posts.
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