By Dione Green

BRISBANE -- On Friday August 13, 300 high-school students attended a rally in King George Square to protest against the Queensland government's cuts to the education budget. Students from 17 high schools walked out of their schools at 11 a.m. to attend the rally.

The aim of the rally was to protest the enormous toll which will be taken on the education of highschool students by the drastic cuts. The cuts will mean:

• The loss of subjects such as Dance, Legal Studies, Health and Recreation, and even Maths II.

• Cuts to extra-curricular activities such as music and drama programs.

• Enlargement of class sizes.

• The loss of school committees for under- privileged students.

• Closure of several smaller schools.

The walkout began with the meeting of students from Balmoral, Acacia Ridge and MacGregor state high schools at the teachers' rally on August 5.

As the heads of the various schools became aware of the intended walkout, the ``ring-leaders'' were threatened with suspension and possibly expulsion if they continued to ``influence'' students to leave the school grounds. Assemblies were called and students were warned of ``dire consequences'' if they participated. At MacGregor High teachers and administration were posted at all school gates so as to further intimidate the students.

Following the rally, in which many students stood up spontaneously to express their opinions, the group marched to the education department building and then to the Executive Building. They then returned to the Queen Street Mall, where, by a twist of fate, Premier Wayne Goss was in the middle of a presentation to the Blue Nurses Association. Suddenly confronted by 300 outraged teenagers Goss made a hasty exit, almost running down the mall to the safety of his limousine while being pursued by the students yelling, ``We want to talk to you, Mr Goss!''.

The rally ended with a decision to form a high-school action group in order to keep the links between schools. The group will be open to all high-school students in Brisbane and surrounding areas in a bid to reverse the trend of being continually disregarded and mistreated by the education system.

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