Guest Column: This Is Our Fight Too

By Guest

By Kitana Le-Garcia

In schools, students are the ones being governed. We have to abide by the school handbook, as well as decisions made by the school administration and teachers. Almost every decision made affects us. However, in situations that involve us, we are almost always the least informed.

We see our teachers stand outside on Wednesday mornings. They have signs and wear green shirts in solidarity. They gather in front of the Rodman building to protest this mysterious teacher’s contract. It’s been going on for months. We can’t ask teachers what’s going on, and they left us to look online to find information.

The working conditions for teachers are our learning conditions, yet no one has explained to us why we’re not receiving the education we once had. We’re already disadvantaged because of COVID-19, yet we continue to lose things. As teachers have begun their protest, they have worked to rule. It may be a necessary step for teachers to take; however, this decision changes a lot for students. Students aren’t able to get extra help after school, which is detrimental for anyone who can’t afford a private tutor to help them improve their grades. Sure, we have honors societies that offer help, but students aren’t always able to answer questions from their peers. Clubs and after-school activities are coming to a halt as teachers aren’t offering a place to host club meetings anymore. Pretty much only the clubs that are funded with stipend positions are running at this point.

Not only that, we’ve seen many talented teachers leaving the field because of their working conditions. What is causing talented teachers to leave the field? Many students believe that teachers should receive the benefits that they’re asking for; however, we ultimately want the quality of our education to go back to the way it was. It’s not just them that this is affecting. It’s affecting us all.

We spend six and a half hours at school five times a week. We spend that time not only with our peers but with our teachers, too. Teachers are a part of our community and by not treating them right, it means that you’re not treating us, the students, right either. Teachers become much more than teachers because they’re our support system outside the house. They’re who we talk to and joke around with during our downtime. They’re our role models and who we aspire to be like. Furthermore, they’re one of our most important resources. Not only do they teach us their designated subject, but they foster curiosity and creativity, help build essential life skills, and create prosperity and success among their students. They change our lives in more ways than one. So why aren’t they being recognized for their hard work?

Where is the money in the budget going if it’s not going to some of the best school resources, the teachers? In such an influential profession, why aren’t they being properly compensated for their work? Is it too much to ask for a livable wage for an essential job?

I started planning the walkout to force the Canton school administration’s hand; however, things didn’t go as planned. A random post circulated on social media that wasn’t from the coordinators of the walkout, which alarmed the town, as they couldn’t identify who was starting the walk. It wasn’t clear if it was someone within the school or if it was a random person trying to lure students outside unsupervised. However, since the coordinators and I organized the walkout anonymously, they did not notify us of the safety concerns the town had until January 5, one day before we planned the walkout to occur. It wasn’t until then that we had to postpone the event. Since the coordinators weren’t working with the school as it was in a way a school protest, they would have punished any students who took part for participating in the walkout because of attendance policies and for leaving school. This would prevent them from participating in any extracurricular activities like games or events.

We stopped the walkout the last time, but it will continue because students will support their teachers as they fight for their contracts. We, as students, want and need to show our support for those who have supported us and continue to support us throughout our high school careers. After all, it was the school that taught us that we should have the “skills to develop and maintain respectful, healthy, and productive relationships among [ourselves] and faculty members.” And the whole purpose of the Code of Conduct in our student handbook is to “outline expectations for maintaining positive relationships … within the Canton High School community.”

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