Issue and Opponent: In 2015, Governor Geraldo Alckman of São Paulo passed a bill to reorganize the public school system which would change the schools of over 300,000 students and impact over a million others without consulting teachers, parents, or students. The bill passed while a ninety-two-day teacher strike occurred due to large class sizes, low security, and lack of necessary resources such as desks and computers.
Dilemma Action: The dilemma action used in the 2015 São Paulo school reorganization struggle was based on the widely held belief that all children have the right to education. On November 12, 2015, fifteen students occupied one of the city’s schools to draw attention to their concerns about rising inequality and decreasing quality of education. The movement grew when the government sent heavily armed military police to remove the students. After the first occupation, 219 schools across São Paulo were occupied by an increasing number of students. In response to being forcibly removed from their peaceful occupations by the police, the students began to hold classes on busy highways by setting up tables and chairs in the intersections and carrying out their usual lessons. The movement gained support from parents and working-class citizens who joined in the assemblies and voiced their support to the media. The dilemma action was designed to put the government in a “lose-lose” situation. If the government went ahead with its plan to close or merge schools, it would look out of touch, insensitive, and undemocratic. If the government backed down from its plan, it would look weak and indecisive.
Outcomes: In response to months of disruptions caused by the students and their supporters, Governor Geraldo Alckman suspended his plan to reorganize the public school system. Holding classes on highways made the reality of mass school closings inescapable for both the public and the government. This action gained sympathetic support from the media, which increased the pressure placed on the government.