Education Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 11

Education - Essay Example Student activism is observed as the crucial force for social change especially in times of political turmoil (â€Å"Student Activism,† 2002). The history is replete with many examples such as China’s May Fourth Movement which happened in 1919 and the Youth Pledge in Indonesia which occurred in 1928. These events have shown the immense sympathy of the youth population toward their respective country. The May Fourth Movement in China had gathered more or less three thousand Chinese students in Tianasquare to protest against its government’s weak response to imperialism and feudalism (Tse-tung, as cited in â€Å"Selected Works,† 2004). On the other hand, the Youth Pledge in Indonesia had helped the Indonesian youths to voice out their concerns with regard to colonialism. The pledge actually provided that the youths of Indonesia will â€Å"build a new and independent nation which was later on achieved in 1945† (McTique, 2009). In other cases, student de monstrations â€Å"have toppled powerful dictatorship, military juntas† and even ended wars (â€Å"Student Activism,† 2002). Truly, student movements have the capacity to effect political change by gathering support from the rest of the community. It serves as the conscience of nations (â€Å"Student Activism,† 2002). Moreover, it reminds the people â€Å"of the founding ideals of their countries† and the aim for dignity, justice and equality in times of political turmoil (â€Å"Student Activism,† 2002). Nonetheless, despite the aforementioned historical accounts on the significance of student activists in a society, there are those who vehemently oppose it. One of which is the government. It is a contention that governments are generally against any activist movements especially those from the youth sector. This is plausible since a government must always protect and defend its honor before its constituents. It looks forward to prevent any f orm of