More than 2,000 Boston public school students walk out of class to protest budget cuts
Students marched through downtown Boston and converged on Boston Common.
Ryan Breslin/Boston.com
Daphne Partridge spent Monday
morning debating whether to walk out of her class at Boston Teachers
Union School. The blond sixth grader worried she might be suspended for
abruptly standing up and leaving, but, more than that, she worried about
what would happen if she didn’t walk out.
As she stood cheering and shouting on the
Common with more than 2,000 other students from across the school
system, Partridge knew she’d made the right choice.
“At our school we’re worried about
language programs being taken away, but now that we’re here we see the
ways all the other schools are affected,” she said. “It’s crazy how many
kids are here. But it makes me feel like I have a voice.”
The students marched through downtown Boston after walking out of class
to protest planned budget cuts, carrying signs and chanting, “What do
we want? Education!,” as shoppers and onlookers walking down Newbury
Street pulled out their cell phones to record the demonstration.
Students made their way in large throngs toward Boston Common, the State House, and Faneuil Hall, on foot and by bus, despite warnings from the school district that they would be marked absent if they left class.
“Pretty much every student in my class
walked out. I don’t think there’s anyone left,” said Harry Saunders, a
senior at Snowden International School. “But I’m surprised how many
people are here.”
Protest organizers posted a letter on Twitter
prior to the walkout stating that budget cuts next year will prohibit
students from learning “at full capacity” and “make it impossible to get
into the college of your dreams.”
The city’s public schools are facing the
deficit due to rising expenses and a decline in state and federal aid.
The exact amount of the deficit, however, has yet to be determined. The
initial budget shortfall was estimated at about $50 million, though the
mayor’s office has said the total figure will be lower when the school
committee votes on the final budget March 23.
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Over 1,000 Boston public school students staged a walkout Monday afternoon, marching downtown, through Boston Common, and outside of Faneuil Hall. Ryan Breslin / Boston.com
This isn’t the first public protest
regarding the budget cuts. During February vacation week, several
hundred parents, teachers, and students held a rally in downtown Boston.
Many parents also protested outside of Mayor Marty Walsh’s “State of
the City” address in January. But this was the first student-organized
demonstration.
City Councilor Tito Jackson marched with
the students, and encouraged them to walk inside the State House to
voice their opinions.
“I’m so encouraged by the massive turnout
and voices of our young people,” he said. “They should be holding
lawmakers accountable. They should demand that they have enough teachers
who will encourage them to stay in their classrooms. They shouldn’t
lose their JV programs, which keep some kids involved and are a lifeline
for them. And they shouldn’t lose funding to charter schools.”
Jackson abruptly broke away from the rally
to go address two students who were fighting on the Common. After the
tussle, the crowd diminished, but several hundred students marched to
Faneuil Hall, where Walsh and Gov. Charlie Baker held a press conference
for a “Forbes Under 30” event.
Once the students realized Baker and Walsh
were no longer inside, they slowly began to walk away. Some students
went back to the State House, where they testified before the Joint
Committee on Education regarding funding.
About two dozen students remained in front of Faneuil Hall, including Nathan Metz-Lerman, a junior at Boston Latin Academy.
“We have to continue fighting,” he said
into a megaphone. “We’re not just gonna let our education be destroyed.
Who wants to do a chant?”
The remaining students cheered.
“They say cut back, we say fight back,” he said. “Cut back.”
“Fight back,” the crowd answered.
Then, as more students dispersed to go home to do homework, Metz-Lerman led the crowd in one last cheer.
“I believe,” he yelled, then paused. “That we. Will win.”
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I truly admire these kids who fight for their rights. That is horrible that public schools have to face deficit and budget cut. Lack of funding is a common problem nowadays. In case you are in a difficult financial situation, same day pay day loan direct lenders online may help you to deal with unexpected expenses. I hope that this protest will improve the situation and the children will be able to study at full capacity. I find this topic very important I am glad kids stand up for themselves. Thank you for sharing!
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