#4jschoolboard

[deannachappellbelcher]

We are not walking out on our students; we are walking out FOR our students

Oregon Educators on the May 8th Day of Action

[deannachappellbelcher]

What if students had some input into how schools are run?

This idea scares the crap out of so many adults. Just like the proposal to lower the voting age in Oregon to 16. State Rep Fahey chortled at the idea during a town hall meeting a couple years ago.  (I think chortle is the right word, not quite a scoff, but not any kind of sound of appreciation either.)  

Today my 15-year-old asked me if kids in high school can vote in the school board election [she has been keeping as much of a distance as possible from this whole project as possible!].  “Yes, of course,” I replied.  “As long as they are 18 and registered to vote.” I told her about my idea to have the board representatives from each high school have a vote. 

After a few minutes of pondering she had her own proposal: “I think all kids in high school should be able to vote.  It’s not like voting for president - the schools are for students, and the decisions made impact the students.”

“Let’s put together a subcommittee to study the impacts of that,” I said.

Bahahaha!  Not really. I would never say that. I hope I never say that.