[Vision2020] Moscow Students Take a Stand

[Glenn Schwaller]

Appears to me as if the students, ANY students, are doing no better
than anyone else at proposing other avenues of education reform.  If
you don't have an alternative proposal don't be complainin'.  Well I
guess you can always role out the "cut the funding from some other
programs" - unless of course it turns out to be one in your
"entitlement backyard".

I do find it amusing what with all the bad-mouthing of "online
courses" from parents and students alike that the students "were
encouraged to bring . . . laptops for the event" and that "students
have been utilizing social networking sites like Facebook to
communicate with other students . . ."  Apparently computers in the
classroom are fine for useless things but certainly not for education.

GS

On Fri, Mar 4, 2011 at 4:33 AM, Tom Hansen <thansen at moscow.com> wrote:
> Courtesy of today's (March 4, 2011) Moscow-Pullman Daily News.
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Taking a stand by sitting in: Moscow High students stay in school
> overnight to protest Idaho education reforms
>
> By Christina Lords, Daily News Staff Writer
>
> While a group of Moscow High School students have serious concerns about
> Idaho Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Luna's education reform
> pending before the state Legislature, they knew they didn't want to send
> the wrong message.
>
> "We know other students have been leaving schools in walk-outs, but we
> wanted to stay in school to show how much we love our teachers," said
> Celeste Hufford, a MHS senior and one organizer of Thursday night's Save
> Our Schools, Stay in School sit-in.
>
> The idea for the sit-in was implemented by a handful of concerned students
> Tuesday after students around the state walked out of classrooms on Monday
> in protest of the proposed legislation.
>
> Students spent the night camped out in the high school's commons giving
> educational sessions, speeches, writing legislators and creating protest
> signs.
>
> Students were required to have signed parental permission to stay the
> night in the school and were encouraged to bring art supplies,
> instruments, food and laptops for the event, Hufford said.
>
> Ames Fowler, a MHS senior, said the students have been utilizing social
> networking sites like Facebook to communicate with other students across
> the state to develop forums for discussions on the education reform and
> organize future rallies.
>
> Fowler started a Facebook group titled "Idaho citizens for real,
> comprehensive education reform" and has been using it and other groups to
> organize events statewide.
>
> About 15 to 20 MHS students plan to attend the statewide student rally
> from noon to 3 p.m. Saturday at the Capitol Building, pending available
> transportation to and from Boise. They plan to spend the night in the
> Idaho Education Association's basement, Hufford said.
>
> He said students have a role to fill in the reform and deserve a voice in
> the debates.
>
> The students divided the sit-in into five stages.
>
> The first stage featured an informational session about the legislation to
> educate students on the reform. Hufford said student organizers of the
> event spent ample time discussing the legislation with Penni Cyr, a member
> of Moscow Education Association and Idaho's director of the National
> Education Association, as well as several other teachers within the
> school.
>
> "One of the criticisms we've seen is that students are rising up to
> protest but don't know what they're talking about," Hufford said.
>
> But students are able to make insightful, informed comments about the
> reform if given the right tools, she said. They should be a part of the
> discussion because they're the ones directly affected by the changes,
> Hufford said.
>
> The event featured student speakers, including Hufford, David Steury and
> slam poetry about the reforms by Kadin McGreevy.
>
> Hufford said she hoped by the end of the informational session and student
> speeches that students would be encouraged to write their state
> legislators.
>
> After coordinating with other students around the state, MHS students are
> in charge of the sign making for the statewide protest, Hufford said.
>
> Students will protest against the legislation on Third Street from 7:45
> a.m. until school starts today.
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Seeya round town, Moscow.
>
> Tom Hansen
> Moscow, Idaho
>
> "The Pessimist complains about the wind, the Optimist expects it to change
> and the Realist adjusts his sails."
>
> - Unknown
>
>
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