Students and Faculty Provide Contrasting Opinions About Student Speak Out

By Hailey Lotz

3/4/22

(Colonie, NY) On December 13, 2021, students of all grades gathered to voice concerns to school faculty during Colonie Central High School’s first student speak out since the COVID-19 pandemic began. Organized by Student Senate, this event saw a large turnout and was coined a success by the club’s representatives, motivating their planning of their next speak out..

The event, taking place in the school library directly after ninth period, allowed the student body to vocalize its needs and expectations to all of the high school principals. Many teachers also looked onto the proceedings, particularly those of the social studies and English departments.

Ms. LaBrake, one of the teachers present during the speak out, described the event as going well. She said that students were great at legitimizing their concerns and making valid points to the principals.

Topics covered during the speakout spanned many fields, including bullying, workloads, and bathroom policies. The continued mistreatment of minority groups in the school by other students and long lines for the school restrooms, partially due to a lack of working appliances, were the main topics discussed.

English wing bathrooms are currently being remodeled. However, this was prompted by a plumbing issue and not student voices themselves. The remodel was planned before the speakout.

Even though concerns voiced remained diverse, some subjects were repeatedly returned to, placing stress on time available to address all topics..

An anonymous student stated, “I think that the topics covered were very important, but the principals were asking for solutions for the issues brought up, and most of the speakers were just stating their concerns. This made it feel pretty unproductive and circular.”

Other students said that they believe that principals should be responsible for coming up with solutions to the concerns raised. They stated that the principals placed too much emphasis on students creating plans without posing enough solutions themselves.

Despite this, the President of Student Senate, Sidney Abel, described this event as occurring generally as it was intended to, with the majority of people remaining respectful. Most of the major topics were addressed, she said.

When planning this event, the Student Senate had difficulties in advertising and ensuring that those in attendance would reflect the topics covered.

Ryan Appleton, Vice President of Student Senate, described their priorities as “making sure that if people wanted something discussed that we actually had people to represent who had that issue first hand.”

Hoping to run this event again this school year, Student Senate will keep most aspects of the speak out the same. The President and Vice President of the club stated that a later date for the next student speakout would allow topics pertaining to the end of the school year to be included.

While noting that she does not know the specifics of how the speak out was organized, Ms. LaBrake emphasizes that too many items on an agenda may prevent each topic from getting a sufficient amount of time allotted to it. She says that this could be kept in mind during the planning of the next speak out, along with providing principals beforehand with the main topics to be discussed during the meeting.

Some principals who attended the event were asked to be interviewed, but they did not respond.