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Vol. 71/No. 14      April 9, 2007

 
Athens event launches new Greek-language title
Pamphlet describes fraud of education reform under capitalism
  
BY GEORGES MEHRABIAN  
ATHENS, Greece—Twenty people attended a wine-and-cheese reception here March 11 to celebrate the publication of the newly issued Greek-language translation of The Working Class and the Transformation of Learning: The Fraud of Education Reform Under Capitalism by Jack Barnes. The booklet in Greek was published by Diethnes Vima. The original English-language pamphlet is published by New York-based Pathfinder Press.

Bobbis Misailides, an airport worker and one of the editors of the Greek-language edition, presented the book to the audience. “The current wave of protests and occupations by university students and professors has brought the issue of the crisis in education to the fore and made people more receptive to a discussion on it," Misailides said (see article above).

"I want to stress that under capitalism, no education reform worthy of its name is possible for working people," he continued. "Why? Because, as the book explains, the goal of the bosses is not to educate the broadest layers of the working masses, but quite the opposite, to teach us obedience and acceptance of their class rule. This is central to understanding what capitalism is. So, in a way it was a coincidence, but a fortunate one, that Diethnes Vima's newest title came out in the middle of the current struggle.”

A lively discussion followed the presentation. Four students from the Athens Medical School took the floor several times. In addition six teachers participated as well as five workers from the Athens airport.

A total of six copies of the book were purchased at the reception, as well as four other titles on revolutionary working-class politics.

The next day, volunteers sold nine books, including two copies of the new title, from a literature table at a 3,000-strong rally and concert in support of the striking teachers and students.

After a round of bookstore visits in Athens, Thessaloniki, Katerini, and Larissa, some 15 bookstores ordered a total of 69 copies of the new title.
 
 
Related articles:
Greece: cops attack protest against school privatization
 
 
 
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