Madrid Teacher

Soon I will be leaving my job, and I will miss the discussions I have with my pupils. we oftem debate politics amongst other things, however I feel disheartened, not because of the fact that we have some amazing indepth discourse about the future and present circumstances of Spain, but in the fact that the disdain these pupils hold for elected representatives. For the first few years in Spain , I put it down to their age, but when I reflected back to my experinece in the UK, many children had ambitions to be politicians, or work for the Government out of a sense of public duty or to better the world. I worked at both Middle class and Working class schools, but there was a sense in both of these institutions that people can make a difference. So it wasn´t their age or the fact that it was in Spain, it is I believe that politicians have wasted the chances they were given thirty years ago to develop a new Spain and improve the lot for its people.

Spanish politics has become pure theatre. In thirty years of democracy when a new deal could have been found, it has been turned into a self serving process for politicians. There are marches against gay marriage and marches which attack the personalities of politicians from opposite view points, marches which seem to me to play light of terrorism, while ignoring that something should and could be done to stop it, but there seesm to be a lack of protests against issues which effect the social and economic welfare of the people. I was reading yesterday on South of Watford that the only question that Rajoy asked of the prime minister was, what is he doing at the weekend? Is this somesort of Joke, or is it a reflection of the contempt in which politicians hold the people

Beaucracy and paperwork stiffle any attempt at economic liberalisation, friends of mine have told me that in paperwork alone it can cost up to 30,000 euros to set up a restaurant or cafe, unless it is set up illegally. This same beaucracy hinders people from going around their daily business, and living their lives simply, recently in the legalisation of papers department for non-nationals I was informed by the information desk in the legalisation department that they cant give out information about legalisation of papers. The only reasons I have ever heard for poeple becoming civil servants here is that they can´t be sacked and it will help them find a good mortgage, this is not to say it doesn´t exist but I have never been given the rationale of public service as a choice for this career path. When Spain joined Europe, money flowed and whilst there might be nice trains and shiny new roads, many people still have to survive on less than a 1000 euros and on contracts which are not really worth the paper they are written on. What has the present Government done about this, when it had a chance? Very little, in the last three years the circumstances of many workers has not improved

The housing market is in crisis or at least on the cusp of one and the Government reply is basically don´t worry (see the potential implications here on The Big Chorizo)

In Alcala, industry is relocating to other areas which results in job losses, while any attempt at developing new skills is answered by the authorities "send people on some cooking training courses with the unemployment office". What about a debate about public education, rather than the teaching of religion in schools. Spanish public schools are seen as some of the worst in Europe, there is money available to improve them and the morale of teachers, why for example in Valencia a few years ago did the Valencian speaking schools get new ICT suites before the others, is this not politicians playing (bad)politics?

Legalised sexual slavery is visable on many salidas from towns or at the sides of the motorways, and again I have seen no marches in protest at this dispicable act against women, who come here with the promise of work in a disco, but end up becoming future AIDS victims.

Immigrants are vilified, although many blogs hold out the hope that it will be better in the future, my friends who are black still see it has a them and Spanish situation, how can it be argued that all will be fine when a professional friend of mine still gets her basket checked every single time she goes to the self service checkout at a famous Spanish supermarket, she pays taxes does not wrong and is still viewed as a thief. I have argued before that immigration is the poker that prods the economy to keep it burining away at over 3% growth.

Certain sections of the population are literally disenfranchised, and although I am not in agreement with the cause of the basque nationalists, if they have no way of expressing their desires they feel at liberty to find alternative processes, there was a chance for a peace treaty and the politicians did not move far enough, and when Zapatero did, he was vilified as a supporter of terrorism. The conspiracy theories about 11/M still abound, do these people have no shame or respect for the people who died and were injured?

Politicians use nationalism in Catalunia, Valencia and Galicia to feather their nests, offer them referendumns, let them put their money where their mouths are, after the results are known they will still be part of Spain. Turkeys dont vote for Christmas

In my job there are several pupils who could have the ability to be high ranking politicians, when I say to them, go for the top, not one of them sees any virtue in being a politician, I might as well be saying aim to be on the checkout at Ahorra Mas. Is this the state the country is in when the next generation see being a politican as a not worthwhile job, in fact see it has a negative career development. It is a shame over the last 6 years I have taught many wonderful pupils who really could make a difference, but unless the current political game is changed for the better they will be turned away from public service.

Labels: Politics