"We got a new principal this year," said eight-grader Sophia Donadio, one of the students who walked out of class. "They took away Future Teachers and moved National Junior Honor Society and Student Council 'til after school so that all students couldn't participate."
The extracurricular activities were moved, according to Donadio, because the principal thought it was taking away from class time.
"These aren't kids who are getting bad marks," Donadio said.
According to Donadio, students had been studying elections and government and were aware of the use of non-violent protests to achieve the right to vote.
Donadio said students left class and sat down in the hallways immediately outside those classes, so that protesting students were spread throughout the school.
On learning of the protest, Principal Charles Marqua and Vice Principal Diane Niles emerged from their offices to learn what was happening.
"They looked pretty angry," Donadio said. "And Ms. Niles said to call the police if we didn't get up and go back to class."
After a short sit-down protest, the students did indeed return to class, and no student was punished for the short protest.
"I did it because I have friends in those organizations, and I think they should be able to be in meetings during the school day," Donadio said.
Sophia Donadio found support for her actions at home.
"I think this is a great demonstration of organized protest and a great way for the kids to exercise their rights in a truly American way," said Lori Donadio, Sophia's mom. "The students spent the fall semester learing about elections and how the government works. This was a fantastic show of putting what they learned to a real life scenario in a safe way. We discussed what this meant for her and she went into the process fully prepared to accept any of the consequences."
14 comments:
Really! The police are use as a threat to get 14 years old back in classroom?
Good for the students! Finally, a group of students who care enough about an issue to demonstrate for it. Having attended college from 1968-1972 during the days of the "radical revolution" I am pleased to see students expressing their disagreement in a positive, constructive manner. I wonder if the teachers took the time to fully expain to the students why the changes had to be made....or were the changes just imposed from on high. Stay involved, students!
when i was in school we NEVER had those meetings during school. as a senior i was a class officer and all of our meetings were after school. if you want to be in a club make the time to do it after school, not during. school is to get your education not to go to club meetings. deal with it.
Call the police? Jesus what a town I live in.
Thank god the kids were well organized. They must of had look outs all over the school. Thanx to cell phones too. I bet one deviant 8th grader must have seen the SWAT TEAM positioning outside with those industrial size, dog the hunter peper spray cans and warned one of his degenarate classmated. Rumor around the jungle gym was that they had centries stationed at critical hallway intersections (they were studying about the stratagies in the dead sea) with 20mm spit balls and paper clip loaded elastic bands for the distant shots. Thank god also that the 8th graders showed restraint, they were embeded in thier positions and there would have been a messy situation. Once again the children in this town showed more restraints than thier youthfully challanged piers !
They have no rights when they go to a school that operates with my tax dollars! Who runs the show here? Suspend them for a week and I bet it won't happen again!
Are the Admins in Middletown getting their EdD's at Gitmo these days?
Call the police? Years ago, I thought that our schools had the right balance between acting like a factory and acting like a prison. It seems that the prison model has become dominant.
Well good for the kids! They peacefully sent out their message. Nothing happened and nothing went wrong. When adults use the threat of the "police" it seems to rile up the haters. Funny how the board of Ed uses the police to fit their needs. Return the programs for them, this is completely ridiculousand is the Board's heavy handedness once again!
The new principal, Dr. Marqua can't seem to please anyone. The teachers are near revolt and the students too. The BOE should fire him, but of course they probably love him. Gene Nocera you are so missed!!
Do they have a rotating activity period when band and chorus meet too? Is this when the clubs meet?
If the administration is so concerned about education, why don't they leave the kids in school instead of these monthly half days so they can educate the already educated teachers? Once a month they now send our kids home so they can meet with the teachers. When the country is asking for more education of our students, Middletown is giving them less. Lets also get rid of Data team meetings where our teachers go to meetings during the day and the kids get uncertified subs to teach the classes. Parents, ask your kids how many times your kid has a sub - they'll tell you - every week! The administration isn't concerned about the education, just how they look to the state. Keep the programs for the kids, they've earned it, and give them back their instruction time, they are owed it.
FTA has to meet during school hours. Students go to a nearby elementary school and help with classes. It would be pretty difficult to help with classes after classes are over.
Also, FTA met during the day when I was a student at WWMS (over 10 years ago). Teachers had no problem working around it as far as I could tell. It isn't like middle school students have multiple quizzes a week in the same class. A little planning and there shouldn't be much of a disruption.
Aren't the advisors getting paid extra money to do these after school activities?
Niles was crazy if she was going to call the police what are they going they couldn't charge them with anything it was non violent so we have a right as U.S. Citizens in out 1st Amendment Right
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