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STUDENT REBELLION AT FRESNO HIGH!
Students fight for justice at Fresno High School.
STUDENT REBELLION AT FRESNO HIGH!
By Mike Rhodes
December 3, 2003
The students say that there are “Cockroaches in the cafeteria, rats are all over the campus, and the bathrooms don’t work!” The final insult to the 500 students, who walked out of school on November 14, was when the Fresno Unified School Board authorized a $25,000 salary increase for Superintendent Santiago Wood. The students were angered and outraged that the school districts top administrator would be given and accept a salary increase when their school was falling apart. Over 500 students walked out of Fresno High school and marched downtown and to the school administration building to protest this injustice.
The size of the protest, organized in just a few days, surprised even the organizers. With such a large number of students on the march, all the police and school officials could do is watch events unfold. The student leadership of the march spoke eloquently to the press that ran to keep up with the march. Through the media, the students told the community that they did not have enough books or desks in their classrooms and they demanded Dr. Wood not accept the salary increase. Many classrooms at Fresno High are using books that are over 10 years old - written during the Reagan or first Bush presidency.
Fresno High is a multi ethnic school in the center of town, with many students from poor and working class families. Over 50% of the students that enter this school as freshman will drop out before they graduate. When students do not have books, have to sit on the floors, and fight with rats for their food, the high dropout rate is not surprising. Why do we not hear about these problems in the schools in the more affluent districts? Will the lack of available resources high and drop out rate exacerbate the wide gap between the rich and poor?
Immediately after the march the school administration started a campaign to retaliate against anyone, particularly teachers, who might have encouraged the student walk out. Teachers were threatened with disciplinary action or termination if they encouraged students to participate in the walk out. An organizer for Californians for Justice was threatened with criminal prosecution for encouraging juvenile delinquency by one of the investigators for the school district. Many students and their supporters have demanded an end to the threats, intimidation, and retaliation by the school district. They are asking why the school administration has money to investigate the teachers and their allies but not enough resources to kill the cockroaches?
The next thing that happened, after the threats and intimidation, was that the school district started finding money to buy new books and desks. Within a week these supplies started to arrive and the school administration claims that every student now has a desk. The witch hunt continued, but no witches were burned. At the school board meeting held on December 3, chairperson Richard Johanson announced that there was no evidence that school employees were involved with the workout.
The students at Fresno High were consistently ignored until they walked out and said that there would be “no business as usual” until these problems are fixed.. This action put a spotlight on the problems at the school, which has led to some improvements. The students who marched to downtown Fresno last month were standing up for their rights. They have won an enormous victory for all of the students at Fresno High and learned an invaluable lesson that would not have been found in their civic’s book (if they had one). They participated in the democratic process and exercised their First Amendment right to Free Speech as guaranteed in the Constitution. Chris Schneider, director of Central California Legal Services, said that “the students seem to understand the First Amendment of the Constitution better than some of the school board members.”
For more information about this issue contact Californians for Justice at 1922 N Echo, Fresno Ca 93704 (right across the street from Fresno High) call (559) 443-1393 or email fresno [at] caljustice.org or visit their web site at http://www.caljustice.org
By Mike Rhodes
December 3, 2003
The students say that there are “Cockroaches in the cafeteria, rats are all over the campus, and the bathrooms don’t work!” The final insult to the 500 students, who walked out of school on November 14, was when the Fresno Unified School Board authorized a $25,000 salary increase for Superintendent Santiago Wood. The students were angered and outraged that the school districts top administrator would be given and accept a salary increase when their school was falling apart. Over 500 students walked out of Fresno High school and marched downtown and to the school administration building to protest this injustice.
The size of the protest, organized in just a few days, surprised even the organizers. With such a large number of students on the march, all the police and school officials could do is watch events unfold. The student leadership of the march spoke eloquently to the press that ran to keep up with the march. Through the media, the students told the community that they did not have enough books or desks in their classrooms and they demanded Dr. Wood not accept the salary increase. Many classrooms at Fresno High are using books that are over 10 years old - written during the Reagan or first Bush presidency.
Fresno High is a multi ethnic school in the center of town, with many students from poor and working class families. Over 50% of the students that enter this school as freshman will drop out before they graduate. When students do not have books, have to sit on the floors, and fight with rats for their food, the high dropout rate is not surprising. Why do we not hear about these problems in the schools in the more affluent districts? Will the lack of available resources high and drop out rate exacerbate the wide gap between the rich and poor?
Immediately after the march the school administration started a campaign to retaliate against anyone, particularly teachers, who might have encouraged the student walk out. Teachers were threatened with disciplinary action or termination if they encouraged students to participate in the walk out. An organizer for Californians for Justice was threatened with criminal prosecution for encouraging juvenile delinquency by one of the investigators for the school district. Many students and their supporters have demanded an end to the threats, intimidation, and retaliation by the school district. They are asking why the school administration has money to investigate the teachers and their allies but not enough resources to kill the cockroaches?
The next thing that happened, after the threats and intimidation, was that the school district started finding money to buy new books and desks. Within a week these supplies started to arrive and the school administration claims that every student now has a desk. The witch hunt continued, but no witches were burned. At the school board meeting held on December 3, chairperson Richard Johanson announced that there was no evidence that school employees were involved with the workout.
The students at Fresno High were consistently ignored until they walked out and said that there would be “no business as usual” until these problems are fixed.. This action put a spotlight on the problems at the school, which has led to some improvements. The students who marched to downtown Fresno last month were standing up for their rights. They have won an enormous victory for all of the students at Fresno High and learned an invaluable lesson that would not have been found in their civic’s book (if they had one). They participated in the democratic process and exercised their First Amendment right to Free Speech as guaranteed in the Constitution. Chris Schneider, director of Central California Legal Services, said that “the students seem to understand the First Amendment of the Constitution better than some of the school board members.”
For more information about this issue contact Californians for Justice at 1922 N Echo, Fresno Ca 93704 (right across the street from Fresno High) call (559) 443-1393 or email fresno [at] caljustice.org or visit their web site at http://www.caljustice.org
For more information:
http://www.caljustice.org
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"They participated in the democratic process and exercised their First Amendment right to Free Speech as guaranteed in the Constitution"
Holding signs and marching is hardly rebellion. It does qualify as speaking out, but when you exercise your "rights" within the laws that are already laid out for you, you are not really challenging the status quo.
I think it would be more rebellious if the students kicked out the teachers and administrators, fixed the schools themselves, and each determined their own curricula. Or didn't go to school at all because school is basically training for prison or "service" in the armed forces.
Holding signs and marching is hardly rebellion. It does qualify as speaking out, but when you exercise your "rights" within the laws that are already laid out for you, you are not really challenging the status quo.
I think it would be more rebellious if the students kicked out the teachers and administrators, fixed the schools themselves, and each determined their own curricula. Or didn't go to school at all because school is basically training for prison or "service" in the armed forces.
“Holding signs and marching is hardly rebellion”
Good point! But, the thing that really impressed me about this action was that 500 students just walked out of school, held a rally, and marched downtown and demand their rights to an equal education. They militantly confronted the powers that be in this community and they (the ruling class) blinked. They (the students) had talked to teachers, elected student leaders, and the school administration about the rats, cockroaches, and lack of desks. That got them nowhere. So, what do they do? They talk to their fellow students and organize a demonstration to get the community aware of the situation. School Board member Luisa Medina got it right when she thanked the students who demonstrated for speaking out. “As a speaker earlier said, you have managed to do what no other adult or organized group in this community has done, and that is to bring attention to your needs, your very basic needs in the classroom,” Medina said.
This walk out was successful in addressing the inequality that exists at Fresno High and throughout the district. In as much as it showed them that being creative, thinking outside of the box, and YES being somewhat “rebellious” can have positive consequences - this was a great event. These students have been empowered to stand up for their rights. Who knows, maybe next they will take over the world!
Good point! But, the thing that really impressed me about this action was that 500 students just walked out of school, held a rally, and marched downtown and demand their rights to an equal education. They militantly confronted the powers that be in this community and they (the ruling class) blinked. They (the students) had talked to teachers, elected student leaders, and the school administration about the rats, cockroaches, and lack of desks. That got them nowhere. So, what do they do? They talk to their fellow students and organize a demonstration to get the community aware of the situation. School Board member Luisa Medina got it right when she thanked the students who demonstrated for speaking out. “As a speaker earlier said, you have managed to do what no other adult or organized group in this community has done, and that is to bring attention to your needs, your very basic needs in the classroom,” Medina said.
This walk out was successful in addressing the inequality that exists at Fresno High and throughout the district. In as much as it showed them that being creative, thinking outside of the box, and YES being somewhat “rebellious” can have positive consequences - this was a great event. These students have been empowered to stand up for their rights. Who knows, maybe next they will take over the world!
The correct phone number for Californians for Justice in Fresno is (559) 443-1394.
Why is it the police just stood by and watched this community march to protest the school district. Yet when protesters organize and march in SF, there always seems to be some form of violence. Why are these two protests different? Hmmm.
the kids are rockin'!
when a group of friends and i organized a coordinated action for the march 5th anti war walk out, we found most of the kids joined in because they hated school, not because they cared
But still, we did find many other kids on campus who felt the same as us that we otherwise would have had no idea of
But still, we did find many other kids on campus who felt the same as us that we otherwise would have had no idea of
Re: "when a group of friends and i organized a coordinated action for the march 5th anti war walk out, we found most of the kids joined in because they hated school, not because they cared"
I went to high school in the 1970s. I remember particpating in a protest then and noticing the exact same thing. But you know what? In any political movement you can find plenty of people participating for the wrong reasons. Democracy isn't perfect.
Don't be at all discouraged by those who particpate for the wrong reasons. Take heart in those who participate for the right reasons -- especially in this era when there is so much complacency among people. I think it's great to see teenagers showing this sort of political initiative. In the 1980s, while I was living in LA, there was a small anti-apartheid movement that sprung up among some area high schools. They organized spirited protests that got a good deal of local media coverage, and it was an inspiring thing to see. They encouraged others to get involved.
I love to see this sort of thing. It gives me hope for the future. And if there is anything that will keep our public schools from becoming the sacrificial lambs for the state's budget crisis, it will be students and teachers taking to the streets and sticking up for themselves and their schools and their communities.
Keep up the fight!
I went to high school in the 1970s. I remember particpating in a protest then and noticing the exact same thing. But you know what? In any political movement you can find plenty of people participating for the wrong reasons. Democracy isn't perfect.
Don't be at all discouraged by those who particpate for the wrong reasons. Take heart in those who participate for the right reasons -- especially in this era when there is so much complacency among people. I think it's great to see teenagers showing this sort of political initiative. In the 1980s, while I was living in LA, there was a small anti-apartheid movement that sprung up among some area high schools. They organized spirited protests that got a good deal of local media coverage, and it was an inspiring thing to see. They encouraged others to get involved.
I love to see this sort of thing. It gives me hope for the future. And if there is anything that will keep our public schools from becoming the sacrificial lambs for the state's budget crisis, it will be students and teachers taking to the streets and sticking up for themselves and their schools and their communities.
Keep up the fight!
Listen to an interview with the students. Go to:
http://www.indybay.org/news/2003/12/1663623.php
This is an interview with three of the student leaders from the walk out at Fresno High school. The show was originally broadcast on December 3, 2003 on KFCF 88.1 FM. Pam Whalen, union organizer for SEIU 250, is the host of the show. Stir it Up which is heard every Wednesday at 3:30 PM can be heard throughout the Central Valley or on the Internet at http://www.kfcf.org
http://www.indybay.org/news/2003/12/1663623.php
This is an interview with three of the student leaders from the walk out at Fresno High school. The show was originally broadcast on December 3, 2003 on KFCF 88.1 FM. Pam Whalen, union organizer for SEIU 250, is the host of the show. Stir it Up which is heard every Wednesday at 3:30 PM can be heard throughout the Central Valley or on the Internet at http://www.kfcf.org
For more information:
http://www.kfcf.org
Hating school is one way of "rebelling" against a school system which doesn't teach how to think, only how to od menial tasks the (capitalist) system needs. Some of the best and most articulate student radicals hate the rote, the tests, the competitiveness, the preparation for a life not worth living. As someone sid earlier in this thread, schools train most poor kids for a life in the military or in jail, or working in a sweatshop or flippin' burgers.
Some people are now going to say that if you don't get an education, that's all you'll be doing anyway. I agree. But the question to be thought about is, "Do schools in this society give poor kids a real education?". I think the self-orgainzation of the march is the beginning of the education the kids need to have in order to create a truly free and just world.
Some people are now going to say that if you don't get an education, that's all you'll be doing anyway. I agree. But the question to be thought about is, "Do schools in this society give poor kids a real education?". I think the self-orgainzation of the march is the beginning of the education the kids need to have in order to create a truly free and just world.
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