On October 2, 2025, the voices of students rang out on two continents, united by a shared demand for safety, dignity, and the right to be heard. In the United States, ParentsTogether released the results of a sweeping national survey of more than 1,000 students in grades 6 through 12, revealing that American youth are deeply concerned about mental health, bullying prevention, and the creation of inclusive, supportive school environments. Meanwhile, across the Atlantic in Spain, thousands of university and secondary school students filled the streets of Madrid and more than 30 other cities, protesting Israel's military operations in Gaza and calling for justice and peace in the face of devastating violence.
Though the issues at hand differ—one rooted in the everyday realities of American classrooms, the other in the international outrage over conflict and humanitarian crisis—their actions share a common thread: students are demanding to be at the center of decisions that affect their lives and futures.
According to ParentsTogether, the U.S. survey, unveiled at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., sought to place student voices front and center in the national conversation about education. The results were telling. Nearly eight in ten students rated their schools as "good" or "excellent," highlighting friendships, supportive teachers, extracurricular activities, and welcoming environments as key positives. But when asked what could make things better, students zeroed in on practical concerns: better meals, more robust bullying prevention, expanded access to mental health resources, and, perhaps unsurprisingly, less stress from homework and exams.
Safety and belonging emerged as overwhelming priorities. An impressive 86% of students agreed that every student should feel safe and included at school, regardless of gender identity—a statement of values that stands in contrast to the divisive debates often dominating headlines. Bullying prevention and mental health support were repeatedly cited as areas in need of urgent improvement. In fact, 45% of students said schools should do more to stop bullying, and 43% called for efforts to reduce academic stress. Nearly half of respondents felt that their schools simply weren't doing enough to address bullying, and many lamented the lack of adequate mental health resources.
These concerns are not just whispered among peers—they're discussed at home. The survey found that more than two-thirds of students (68%) talk with their families about anti-bullying policies, and 63% discuss mental health support. The message is clear: students and their families are largely aligned on what matters most, even as political debates swirl around other, more divisive topics.
“ParentsTogether believes the most powerful way parents can support public education is by listening to the students who live it every day,” said Ailen Arreaza, Executive Director of ParentsTogether. “Our survey found that students and families largely agree on what matters most: protecting kids from bullying, expanding mental health support, and ensuring every child feels a sense of belonging. When we center these priorities, we can move beyond political distractions and focus on solutions that truly strengthen schools.”
The survey's findings were echoed during a lively panel at the National Press Club, featuring youth leaders from Kentucky Student Voices, Students Engaged in Advancing Texas (SEAT), and Seek Common Ground. These organizations, each dedicated to amplifying student agency in education, called for a shift in how decisions are made in schools. “Students are the primary stakeholders in education and should hold influence in the decisions affecting us,” said Cameron Samuels, Executive Director of SEAT. “This report reveals what we have heard among the student body for years: students crave effective solutions for advancing youth mental health and bullying prevention in schools. Our long-overdue investment in public schools could be a game-changer for a safe, welcoming, inclusive, and empowering education system.”
While American students focused on the internal challenges of their educational system, Spanish students turned their attention outward, taking to the streets in solidarity with the people of Gaza. On October 2, thousands of students protested in Madrid, responding to a call from student organizations and national unions to denounce Israel's ongoing military operations in the region. Demonstrations rippled through more than 30 cities, from Galicia in the northwest to Granada in the south, under the rallying cry: “education against barbarity, liberty to teach, liberty to learn.”
The protesters described Israel's actions in Gaza as "genocide," and their anger only grew when news broke that a Gaza-bound flotilla carrying humanitarian aid from Barcelona had been intercepted by Israeli forces. Spanish activists were reportedly on board. “Today, our classes are empty and the streets of more than 40 cities in Spain are full of people, full of students, proving our dignity and proving also that we are in the correct side of history together with the Palestinian people,” said Coral Latorre, general secretary of a leading student organization.
The Spanish government, led by Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, has publicly criticized Israel's actions, with Sanchez himself using the word "genocide" to describe the situation in Gaza. Yet, for many of the protesting students, words are not enough—they demand concrete action, including an end to arms sales to Israel and a full diplomatic break with the Netanyahu administration.
The protests coincided with news of yet another tragedy in Gaza. Yahya Barzaq, a Palestinian photographer celebrated for his portraits of newborns and his commitment to documenting the beauty and hardship of life in Gaza, was killed in an Israeli airstrike on October 1 while uploading photos in a Deir al-Balah cafe. His funeral, held the following day, was a somber reminder of the human cost of the conflict, which has claimed over 60,000 lives as of early October 2025.
Barzaq's story is a poignant one. In an interview with China Media Group last year, he explained, “I chose to photograph newborns because I love photography, especially in Gaza, where no one specializes in this field. It was an opportunity for me to become the first person in Gaza to focus on newborn photography. I love beautiful things, and the people of Gaza love all things beautiful. They love children and enjoy capturing the beauty of life.” But as the war intensified, Barzaq’s camera was forced to capture scenes of destruction and loss. “For a long time, I didn't pick up my camera because it's a camera that had once captured beautiful scenes and the angelic smiles of children. And now it must document crimes, destruction, and the miserable life we are enduring. But when people see or hear about our life, it's hard for them to believe all of this. I feel it's my duty to convey this truth to the world—that life is extremely difficult for the children and for Gaza. They are suffering from atrocities, massacres, hunger, insecurity, and a lack of medical care.”
Barzaq’s greatest wish, he said, was for the conflict to end. That wish, tragically, went unfulfilled. Now, his photographs remain as silent witnesses to a world in turmoil, and the students who marched in Madrid carried his memory—and the memory of so many others lost—into the public square.
Whether advocating for safer schools in America or protesting violence abroad, students are refusing to be mere bystanders. Their message is unmistakable: the time has come to listen, to act, and to put the needs and voices of young people front and center.
