The New Learning Project and the Margaree Education Coalition are not recommending civil disobedience or otherwise breaking laws as normal strategies to promote community-based education. At the same time it must be acknowledged that these actions have been and will be used in desperation. Had the Nova Scotia Teachers Union conducted their illegal strike in 1995, this would have been an act of civil disobedience and the law would have been broken. The seven Margaree students who locked themselves in their school in December 1996 were guilty of civil disobedience, illegally occupying a public building. By openly breaking the law, the students succeeded in drawing public attention to their concerns and inspiring region-wide opposition to school closures.

If an act of civil disobedience is being considered by a group advocating for change in public education, the following matters should be addressed:

• Determine that there is community support for the action.
• Carefully plan the act of civil disobedience: timing, location, duration, participants, resources, etc.
• Keep the plans secret and include only trusted participants.
• Have a clear purpose for the action and achievable objectives and demands.
• Retain the advice and services of a lawyer who supports the cause.
• Tolerate no violence or property damage.
• Do whatever is possible to reassure officials that the privacy of desks and records is not being violated.
• Be prepared to abort the action if public support is lost or the community becomes divided.
• Gather media contact lists and reference material to have on hand.
• Communicate regularly with decision-makers, authorities, media and the public.
• Use cell phones or phone credit cards to avoid long distance charges on government, school, etc. phones.
• Maximize the identity of the action through signs and the presence of supporters.
• Maintain high morale among the participants.
• Have a plan to end the act of civil disobedience in a manner that is positive to the cause.
• Be prepared to accept the legal consequences of the act of civil disobedience.