Education Protests in Santiago

Although I'm not 100% sure we have an accurate understanding of the education protests in Santiago, it seems that the protests are because of inequality in education between the lower/middle and upper class. This picture is from a school next door to our apartment in Santiago. If you look close, or click on the photo to get a better view, all the student's desks and chairs are stuck in the fence of the school. Kids stopped going to this, and many other, public schools around the beginning of June 2011, and they haven't been back yet! There are daily parades and protests in Santiago and some of the smaller towns. They say that for every 10 upper class students that get into the good colleges, only one lower or middle class students gets in. This isn't because of lack of intelligence, but lack of education. Even in the public schools, which are open to all, education is not as standardized as it is in the US. The students in the poorer neighborhoods get a worse education, and therefore can't pass the entrance exams to get into the good colleges (as easily). So, they are protesting this inequality, which seems totally legitimate. If you have seen anything in the world news about this you probably also so videos of looters, etc. Really, we lived there very close to the protests for 5 months....the looting is minimal. And, it is not the protesters that do it. They know they have to be peaceful. But, other persons who like to cause problems get into the crowds and do it sometimes. Anyhow, I'm still not totally clear on the inequality, or if all their protest requests are legitimate, but I'm sure that some or most of it is. It is interesting to watch and occasionally get to talk to a local about. We have a student right now who hopes to graduate from college this Fall but isn't sure if he will or not...depending on if the strike ends in time or not. Viva Chile!!