'SUP AT SCHOOL
BSAC BUZZ
We’ve passed the midpoint of the year. Here’s what Boston Student Advisory Council has been working on since our last update.
BSAC has been finalizing the Friendly Feedback Form, which would give students an opportunity to evaluate teachers. Students would fill out this form explaining their perspectives on how teachers are helping students to succeed academically. The main goals of the evaluation form include: improving student, teacher and headmaster relationships, improving classroom environment to improve school culture, and allowing students to realize how their thoughts and opinions help to influence their learning environment. BSAC worked on the Friendly Feedback Form last year but because of negotiations between the Boston Teachers Union and Boston Public Schools it was put on hold. This year we will work to identify a couple of schools willing to pilot this project. Students, stay on the lookout!
Another important issue involves school metal detectors. Almost everyone in the BPS district admits that some days their school metal detectors don’t work properly and aren’t equipped with enough people to do the searches. Because of this, some students have considered bringing weapons to school as protection from others. This is a major issue because of the potential danger. Currently, we are in the process of ensuring there are working, efficient metal detectors in all schools. Also we are aware of other problems that come along including long lines, where waiting to be searched can cause tardiness for students, or where students are disrespected because they are searched based on their attire if it looks suspicious to the searcher. While students endure this treatment, teachers walk around the metal detectors. It’s time for equality and respect when it comes to safety in the learning community.
Last, I would like to remind you how important it is to have a well-functioning, developed student government empowering your school. Many students feel there are problems in their schools that they are incapable of changing. This is not true.With a student government or student leadership, where all thoughts are appropriately communicated to peers, staff, and headmasters, anything can be improved. If students take actions to change the issues affecting them, a fairer solution can be reached. BSAC and the district encourage students to get involved because, in the end, you should feel proud you attend a school as great as the one you envisioned.
If you are into making a serious change to your school and feel the problem is spreading throughout BPS, join BSAC. If you’re interested contact us at BSAC@boston.k12.ma.us or call the BSAC coordinator Maria I. Ortiz at 617-594-5721.
BCLA keeps it real on Zimbabwe
On January 25 a group of dedicated students joined forces with the community at Boston Community Leadership Academy (BCLA) in Brighton to deliver a powerful message with one voice. “All It Takes is One Voice, Your Voice” is the title of the movement, the motto and the key phrase spoken at the rally.
The rally was executed by students, teachers, and Reebok executives working on a year-long project called Reebok 4 Real. BCLA was chosen as one of six Boston high schools to compete for $10,000 by designing and implementing a campaign to support a human rights activist. The group chose to work for Otto Saki, human rights lawyer from Zimbabwe.
The people in Zimbabwe have no rights and they are constantly under attack. The activists who stand up to the government for their rights are beaten. Saki works within the legal system to defend and protect those who speak against the government to improve their situation. Saki’s goal is for Zimbabwe to be safe and successful.
Zimbabwe is neither safe nor successful. “Operation Murambatsvina” translates into English as “drive out the rubbish.” This government program uses bulldozers to demolish communities, relocating families and schools into refugee camps. This is one government operation currently destroying the beautiful country. There is no freedom of speech to protest the current situation. Imagine living in a place where you were terrorized? Or where you could leave your house and it wouldn’t be there when you got back? This is what the people of Zimbabwe experience. Tens of thousands of people have been forcibly evicted from their homes, which were then burned. Eighty percent of citizens are unemployed. Zimbabwe has the highest inflation rate in the world. Imagine being hungry and homeless knowing the government isn’t going to help and everyone around you is in the same situation?
After learning this, the BCLA Reebok 4 Real team’s main focus is on raising awareness of the situation in Zimbabwe. The goal is to collect 1,500 signatures on a petition protesting the country’s leadership. The secondary goal is to raise $5,000 to benefit the country’s displaced children. The people of Zimbabwe need our help. BCLA’s Reebok 4 Real team needs you to help us raise awareness and funds. United we can help those in need.
At the recent kick-off rally at BCLA, representatives from Reebok International were in attendance as well as special guests, courtside reporter for the Celtics “Coach” Willie Maye, and Reverend Gift Makawasha of St. John/St. James Episcopal Church. Guest of honor was Zimbabwe’s Otto Saki, who moved the crowd with details of his experience with his country’s corrupt government. Saki spoke with sadness but optimism.
BCLA student poets Stephen Sampson, Demakis Miller-Jones, and Kevin Emile performed pieces that highlighted what is occurring in Zimbabwe and encouraged students to speak out. Sampson, a senior, summed up the feelings of BCLA’s 4 Real team with his words: “They don’t go from rags to riches; they go from rags to ditches where they dump your body after diseases devour your flesh. These are the people who pray for what we throw away, no playgrounds, just junkyards where malnourished children play. In the vicinity of tribulations, the hope of prosperity seems so vacant on land where only echoes respond to quiet calls from starving stomachs. But if we rummage through our hearts and our souls, we can one day find hope for Zimbabwe.”
Visit our website and join our campaign, http://web.mac.com/nenamelon/iWeb/Site/Welcome.html. All we need is one voice, your voice, to speak out.