Many students from the Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District took a walk off of the classroom early on Tuesday to protest recent actions of the local school boardfor example, the elimination students’ representative on the Board as well as the exclusion of books from libraries to be reviewed.
The organizers of the protest claim that students from 7 Mat-Su high schools left.
The students at Career Tech High School in Wasilla the students were dismissed from classes in the morning at 10 a.m. They gathered at the flagpole and held signs asking the school board to listen and shouting “give us our voice back We ought to be able to make a decision.”
Juniors Riley Flinn and Lily Shea were the organizers of their protests at Career Tech, and other schools swiftly organized walksouts on their campuses. Protests were held at Colony, Palmer and Wasilla high schools each more than 100 students organizers have said that students from even as from as far North Fairbanks have also joined in the demonstration in support. Students reacted to school board decisions that restrict the rights and voices of students at Mat-Su schools.
“I’m happy for each student who came to school today and believes that this is significant enough to not miss a lecture,” said Shea, who skipped the AP Chemistry class to lead the protest. “Skipping the class is a huge deal. I’ve never done it due to my fear of what I’ll lose however, I’m happy that there are so many kids who are so enthused about the activities and know that this is a huge thing.”
The specific decisions of the school board which students protested included that of the expulsion of the school’s student representatives on the Board, despite opposition from the public, and subsequent investigation conducted from the Board into the students and staff who opposed the plan. The board also requires additional credits to be earnedbeyond the state standards and has appointed the advisory panel to examine 56 books that are challenged which are utilized in the curriculum of the district.
Students were outside the schools they attend for 56 minutes in an ode to the amount of books being currently being reviewed in the Library Citizens Advisory Committee. These 56 titles were taken from school libraries in the spring of this year, just prior to the committee’s beginning to discuss which books should be taken from which schools.
Flinn One of the students who organized this protest held on Career Tech, noted that the process used previously to test books was based on input from students The current committee doesn’t.
Shea The other organizer, stated that it’s vital for school board members and voters members to understand what the students are feeling. The protest was staged by students just a week prior to the local Mat-Su elections. There are two School board positions will be on the ballot on Tuesday.
“We’re not letting up even after this election is over,” Shea said. “We will continue to keep our next school board and the present school board to the same standards and we believe that our voices should be heard. We are the biggest of their stakeholders, therefore we should have a say, and we will be able to convey that message we’re hoping to get out this day.”
Ben Kolendo is the Student Advisory Board Representative, whose position in the board of education was cut in September. Kolendo is 18 years old andin contrast to many of the students who protested alongside Kolendo -He will be allowed to vote in the coming week.
“Local election are among the important and, right now, this students are saying that we believe the election this year is much more significant than the usual,” Kolendo said.
Students handed out donut holes and hand warmers in the course of their walkout. A few cars walked through the parking area and honked to the children, invoking loud cheers.
The head of Career Tech declined to comment on the walkout.
