High School Protest - Students want a voice

Pre-College Issues High School Life
1

<p>Hey everyone,</p>

<p>I thought I might share this here since I think a lot of you might be interested and in the same situation as a lot of these students.</p>

<p>Recently, there was a protest at my school against a new schedule that would take away one period from the school day, which would mean less opportunity to take electives and to have free periods. When students tried to express their views to the Board of Education, they didn't listen. So, we, the students, took matters into our own hands. </p>

<p>However, even more important than protesting the schedule was that we wanted to make a statement that students need to have a voice in their education and we can't be treated like children anymore. </p>

<p>I hope some of this resonates with you, and I'm curious to read all your opinions on what happened!</p>

<p>Also, check out termonline.org</p>

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<p>That’s awesome. Good job!</p>

3

<p>I think it is AWESOME!! And are you the one talking in the video?</p>

4

<p>I’m glad you guys like it!</p>

<p>It depends which one you’re referring to - I’m Philip Grossman, the first one who appears.</p>

<p>I’m hoping we can get this video to go viral, so if you like it you should send it to friends/family/teachers. Anyone you think it could inspire!</p>

5

<p>Nevermind, apparently youtube links aren’t allowed. If you’d like to see the video you can search T.E.R.M sponsored Briarcliff High School Student Protest. It should be the second to last in the results.</p>

6

<p>I will add it to my signature on other websites :)</p>

<p>and I have the video</p>

7

<p>That almost made me cry. </p>

<p>I’m completely serious on this, it was excellent.</p>

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<p>You’re pretty eloquent; you look up from the paper more than the others, which is good. Voice projectors like that often mess with the effect, but your delivery was excellent, so it doesn’t really matter. You were more calm and collected in the beginning, while others spoke more passionately (but barely), but you seemed more passionate when you appeared at the end; each has its advantages, and you handled speaking very well. Your opening statement and argument on the whole was fairly persuasive.</p>

<p>I’m sure you can tell I’ve judged debate tournaments (if I was to put you on the 1-6 scale, you get a 6). Good luck.</p>

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<p>Quomodo, I’m really happy you liked it so much!</p>

<p>BillyMc, thanks for the critiques. I noticed that I didn’t look up from the paper enough, I’m going to have to work on that for next time. It’s good to know I would have done so well at a debate tournament, maybe that’s something I should look into.</p>

<p>If any of you want to get involved with T.E.R.M: The Educational Reform Movement send me a message. The website is [Home</a> - T.E.R.M: The Educational Reform Movement](<a href=“http://www.termonline.org%5DHome”>http://www.termonline.org). We’re planning more events, but we need all the support we can get.</p>

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<p>I totally agree with you man. At our school, one period was also removed, which angered a lot of students who wanted to take more electives. But no one actually did anything about it. You’ve got some serious guts bro, and so does everyone else who spoke at that protest. Let us know what happens with this.</p>

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<p>

If you have the time, I would recommend it. It’s great fun, and your speaking skills seem on par with many I’ve seen do well at the national level (I’m a 4-year debater, myself, in addition to a sometime-judge).</p>

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<p>I’ll look into attending the next debate club meeting. Are they usually spontaneous debates or ones that you prepare for?</p>

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<p>Actually, it depends entirely on how your school does debate. If they’re part of the National Forensic League (largest national debate league), then most events (there are many) involve preparation.</p>

<p>Most students who really love to pursue debate do so with the hope of one day applying it to the real world; looks like you’re already doing that very well.</p>

14

<p>My school used to be 8 periods a while ago, but then they changed it to 7. Man, if I had 8 periods I would have been able to take so many more electives and classes I was interested in.
9 periods actually just seems like too many to me, lol.</p>

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<p>I hope all of you get expelled from the district.</p>

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<p>we’ve always had 7 periods at my school.
i wish i went to a school where more than half of the population cared… it would be just myself standing out there…</p>

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<p>Sigur Ros = Automatic Win.</p>

<p>It’s like playing a Wildcard and using Jesus in Apples to Apples.</p>

18

<p>My school only offers 6 periods. 4 core classes, one graduation req, and one elective per year. No free periods.</p>

19

<p>awww ^^</p>

<p>our schedules are pretty flexible. we have core graduation reqs but they can be taken anytime (ie we need 3 years of gym but can skip a year.)</p>

<p>i got all of mine is last year (except the req 4 years of english) anything past a grad req is considered an elective (ie physics, statistics, psychology, pre calc?)</p>

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<p>Mine has 9 periods now, so most people take at least 1 elective every year.</p>