Thread: These kids must think money grows on trees

Voice of the People
Students speak out about schools
Students' voices not heard in election process
Article Launched:11/05/2006 01:00:00 AM PST

We are writing, because we are students who live in San Bernardino. We represent students who attend all seven high schools in the city. We are extremely concerned about the upcoming school board elections, because, as students, we feel our voice is not heard.

We are not of age to vote in the elections. In this important matter, the adults of our city make the decisions for us. Nevertheless, we think our input about what we need from a qualified school board member to fully support us in our educational process is very important.

We firmly believe that all school board members should protect the interests of all students, regardless of race, ethnicity, country of origin or immigration status.

We live in a community in which crime and violence affect our ability to learn and lead healthy lives. We need a school board that helps provide a safe environment in which students can concentrate on learning.

This doesn't mean we need schools that look like prisons. It does mean that the school board must work to provide opportunities for all students to participate positively in the resolution of problems in our schools.

As students, we want the assurance that we have adults who support us, make decisions for our benefit and try to see things from our point of view. Throughout our schooling, we have seen and experienced that not all students are treated as equals. Students demand respect from our school board. It is our hope in this election that whoever is elected will be accountable to us in an equal manner in which they hold us accountable for our learning.

Many of the problems in our schools are because of lack of funds and resources needed to support a high quality education for all of us. This lack of resources ultimately affects our opportunities in the future. We need a school board that will find resources to build new schools, reduce overcrowded classrooms and find funding for after-school programs that prepare us for our future.

We need a school board that works with students to find solutions that affect us in our schools. Problems of racial tension must be addressed direcctly in a way that involves our whole community. This cannot be done by blaming any one group, whatever their race, ethnicity or immigration status. This can be done by working with students and our parents to improve our schools.

In our schools, we are told that leadership is important. Now, we are exercising that leadership by calling on our community to elect school board members who will protect the interests of all students. Please go out and vote and elect school board members who will help unite our community and work with us to overcome the huge obstacles we face in school.
# MIREYA OLGUIN
# CRISTINA RUIZ
# ROCIO RUIZ
# JESUS CHAVEZ
# IVAN AGUAYO
# SILVIA ESCOBEDO
# REYNA FLORES
# EVA CHAN
# ROSALIND GONZALEZ
# BLANCA ORTEGA
# KATHY GONZALEZ
# RAQUEL ROMAN
# CONNIE VIDRIOS
# FRANK VIDRIOS
# STEPHANIE RODRIGUEZ
# and 1,466 other students from San Bernardino, San Gorgonio, Cajon, Arroyo Valley, Pacific, San Andreas and Sierra high schools

http://www.sbsun.com/voiceofpeople/ci_4608824

I don't see any signatures and I'd venture half those students couldn't even read the statement.

That's the way it is. Those who don't pay for services want lots of them.
This would be a great item to time capsule and send out to each student in say.........40 years.