Later that evening curiousity about the day’s events took me to pay a visit to some friends in Oiartzun. I was looking for more insights into the students strike and the intrusion of political activity in the schools. My questions were directed at the various members of the Iturbide family. The mom of this family was a founding teachers of one of the schools of the ikastolas of Oarsoaldea, her brother had been active supporting ETA in his youth. She was married and had three children, yet her youngest child upon completing his studies at Haurtzaro Ikastola went on to the Public High School rather than continue in Orereta Ikastola. Why?

The mother and son were conveniently in the kitchen. Nekane cooked while Kepa her son sat at the kitchen table watching tv at a distance and chatting with us. Nekane explained that she had reservations over the politically charged atmosphere but she let Kepa choose. Kepa chose the public high school parting way with over 70% of his classmates looking for less basque activist culture. This decision also had a certain elegance to them because it celebrated the fact that they had a choice. Basque language education had been adopted by the public school system and with their decision they were supporting this historic achievement.