SCHOOL: The establishment failing those it was meant to serve.
I have been witness to letters pleading for our school districts in California to help the students through these tough times; arguments ranging from the deteriorating mental health, to assignments bearing too heavy a weight. Though these letters often strike common ground among peers, it is harder for those not in our position to rationalize the real struggles that students are undergoing at the moment. The essential piece missing from student sent letters is that they fail to criticize those whose jobs it is to listen to us, and that they rely too heavily upon the burden of online work, rather than other pressing issues. I mean no disrespect to those who write these letters, as I am sure they have poured their hearts out onto their papers, but I find myself growing tired of sympathy for those on top.
It would be impossible to say this year has not caused struggle for all students. Despite being in the comfort of our homes, many of us have gotten used to the normal conditions of which we grew up in, which includes going to school in person. The major battles students fight are often not with work. Very often, poor time management as the teachers argue, is to blame, but not due to laziness as they hypothesize. Many students, including myself, are rather fed up with the monotony of this format of school, as we turn to our screens for three hours or more everyday, and listen to the faces on our screen that talk at us; this is not even including the time spent doing homework. Our “time management issues” oftentimes boil down to a lack of motivation to participate in this monotonous system. Another factor adults fail to consider is that not every student has good friends they can hang out with during this time, as many relied on school for that. I have been lucky to have friends who want to hangout during this time, but this does not account for all of my peers. One of the most arduous of tasks for students right now, is actively participating, and attending online school. From an adult’s point of view, one might say: “What is so hard about clocking into your computer everyday.” To that I would say it is quite tedious, and I don’t take much away from it other than growing disdain for this system that seems to be leaving me behind. While it might be easy for someone who works a 9 to 5 in a little office cubicle to say that… we aren’t 9 to 5 working adults yet. So, it is indeed hard to participate in a system lacking emotion, or real human interaction. Yet, teachers wonder why student participation is low. I will personally say it now, why should I be a willing participant in this system that has left my peers and I behind? By all accounts, I shouldn’t. However, I abide by our legal system, and I don’t feel like going to court, so I do the next best thing, and turn off my camera.
Our School district, RUSD, has failed us. Our Principals have failed us. Our Teachers have failed. Let me make it clear that I am criticizing these collectives as professionals, and not as individuals. RUSD has failed us by not keeping promises, and acting out of complacency towards our students. They have not only failed to deliver a return to in person schooling or any hybrid form for regular students, but have completely neglected parents voicing their concerns to them; just look at the many calls given to the board during their meetings, and you will see how disgruntled the parents have become along with their children. Do any recall when we were set to return in November, I do, and I remember when the district pushed it farther back too. With announcements of returning, many were filled with hope, which I could say given conversations with peers, and close friends. However the district’s rallying of hope was actually a vehicle for despair. They continue to create a trail of tears with their empty statements of return, of which will not be healed anytime soon. The impact of these school closures can not remain unspoken, for example, suicide rates in teens as of august 2020 were at 11.8% in riverside county, as reported by the Strategic Health Alliance Promoting Equity (SHAPE) reported, whereas a previous study in 2015-2017 by Kidsdata.org reports that they were at 8.6%, which is a sizeable jump. The district is not solely to blame, however they do not realize that they could be actively preventing deaths by giving the students what they want. Our governmental systems were supposed to be created for the people, by the people, and yet we find the bureaucracy of the RUSD board getting in the way of serving the people. The district does not also account for, or fails to realize that open schools could provide an escape, or safe space for abuse, and rape victims. Though I cannot go on without acknowledging the one bone that our superintendent throws us. Superintendent Hansen does indeed send emails on the behalf of students, and their mental health. Now tell me this: Is an email sent to an audience of those who see emails as a largely irrelevant form of communication a good way to potentially prevent their suicide, or comfort them in times of mental instability? No I don’t think so, and quite honestly it is asinine to think that an email could even stop a mentally ill minor from commiting suicide. I would only hope that our Superintendent David Hansen would sympathize with these sentiments, but he does not seem to address them seriously, or hold our mental issues above a priority email. The board also fails teachers, by keeping them out of the loop with their plans, as I have had reported to me by teachers of various grade levels. I can only hope that our upcoming superintendent Renee Hill is better suited for the job.
My own orange and green blood, what a fall from grace we have suffered this year. To not criticize POLY would show a lack of pride for our campus, as I do want to see it gloriously return, as do many others. My first criticism is to who I see as the next in the chain of command, our principal, Mr. Darel E. Hansen. I would first like to cite my respect for this man, as he has been trying to hold the line virtually, however, as evident by RUSD, the line has already been broken. Mr. Hansen you have failed to exhibit the tenets of Poly PRIDE to your bears, as you are now treating us like cubs. As the leader of our campus you have done little to provide students with any sort of passion for our school, as communication has been a largely one way street. A leader should have the respect to listen to their students’ wishes, such as returning to school; again this is a one way street. Integrity is to live by what you stand for, and so far you have lacked two of the tenets of PRIDE. Another sign of this loss of integrity is within your posts on the Poly social media page. You often turn off comments on posts that may cause dissent, and often ignore comments critical of the situation. If you were determined to set things back to normal, you would be an advocate for student voices, and press the district for our return, or better yet become a bear and take charge in disobeying the injustices of this school year, and having us return against the board’s wishes. You are Extraordinary Mr. Hansen but right now it is for the wrong reasons. It would appear that you are extraordinary in being complacent to the current state of education. I implore you to be extraordinary, and be one of the only district employees to advocate the overwhelming will of the parents and students, and to push for our return during this school year. You used to be inspiring to many students with your charisma, and adhesion to the tenets of PRIDE, but now you have become less an inspiration, and more of a disappointment to your bears, and I think it is time you come out of hibernation.
Teachers are perhaps the hardest to criticize in this situation, as they are towards the bottom of the chain of command, and are somewhat in our position. This does not exempt them from criticism however. As a collective some of you have failed to uphold the tenets of PRIDE, and have failed as child advocates. Correct me if I am wrong, but in being a teacher, you are passionate about your students, as well as your subject of profession. I have been privy to knowledge about teacher union votes, as I happen to have close friends to my family belonging to these teacher’s unions. With the information I have been presented it seems as if many of you have in fact voted to keep this horrid format of school, rather than returning and progressing back to normal, which is another sign of complacency. It baffles me that people that are so integral to the educational system as you are do not ever push back. You are constantly left in the dark about what plans the district has for you, and with the prospect of virtual school many of your jobs are at risk. With the passion you find in your career, and pupils, I would expect more of a fight in your spirits, but your passion is waning collectively with every passing day of lost time. Respect is something many of you have kept for your students. In fact I would argue that your empathy shows here with the understanding of “internet issues,” and other mental, and physical health problems. This is because with teachers respect is largely personal, and less professional. However, where I draw your disrespect towards students is with the straw man narrative some teachers push, of teachers not being babysitters. While a loud minority of parents may see you as such, it is a hasty generalisation, and self degradation to say the majority views you as such. Though I don’t believe this narrative comes from a place of genuine feelings, as it accompanies a long list of excuses on why not to return. At the end of the day you are child advocates, and mandated reporters, and in failing to own up to your responsibilities, you lose an aspect of your Integrity in the process. Teachers, and adults of the like have said that they cannot wait for us to go back, and have given us the equivalent of superficial pity for our states of despair looking at the prospect of not returning. If our teachers had the determination to send us back, they would advocate not only for us to return, but also push back against their corrupt unions, and the district of which does little to assure them job security. The tenet you teachers do have is Extraordinary, as with our principal, you have become extraordinary in being complacent with our current state of education. It sours me to see you in this light, as many students including myself have seen you all as great role models. However it is in the burning building that some of you leave us behind, as you said you wouldn’t.
A misunderstanding I do not want to take place is that “all teachers,” are lumped into my criticism, as I do make sure to say that it is some of you who propagate complacency. In all my years as a student it would be rude to say all teachers are devoid of the qualities I criticize them for not having. My point, especially with the information on your union votes, is that we are lacking people fighting in our corner bureaucratically. Again on a personal level I think you succeed as role models and teachers, it is on the grander professional scale, and your place in the machine of which I have quarrels with (complacency). The first one would be the numbers argument. While catching COVID-19 is a concern for many, despite this many parents, and students alike are indeed pressing to go back to school this year. This argument could be described as a red herring deterring from the fact that many parents, and students do indeed want to return to school, the district could fix this through a simple waiver to be signed, giving those who would rather remain at home, an option to do so. What complicates this is teachers, as many are vocally afraid of COVID-19, and are manipulated by their Unions to vote certain ways. This sounds really inconsiderate, but this is coming from a teacher: “When you take up duty as a teacher, it is like signing an oath, a selfless act, in educating, and being beacons of wisdom for our youth.” I do not believe this is with your worst intentions in mind, however, if you are concerned about our safety, you should look no further than the abuse, rape, and homeless victims of this pandemic, it would be a false dilema to assume our safety is purely chalked to COVID-19. From my soul perspective this seems more like a self concern, rather than a concern for us, as we are perhaps among the least of those affected by COVID-19. COVID-19 could also be used to explain why we haven’t returned to school, however comparing other densely populated areas alike to California confirms suspicions that returning to school is purely a decision of the bureaucracy, and not of science. Why should schools in Texas open up, but not schools in California? Another argument that can be made against my statements, pertaining to my analogies regarding Poly PRIDE, is that they are ad-hominem type statements, and the points I made do not reflect their love of the school or students. On the ad-hominem argument, I had prefaced my criticism based solely on your status as professionals, and not to you personally. Though statements I make are emotionally charged, I have not attacked you as people, rather as professionals failing to carry out your jobs. While you may love the school as I do, it is clearly not enough to want to return, as your Union votes highlight. On the subject of passion for students, I do believe many of you have a great compassion for your students, and are quite empathetic to our callous letters we present you on google meets. However, it is my belief that you disappoint the tenet of passion with the waning morale you face with potential job insecurity. A great argument that can be made against this letter is that the Principal cannot just open the school against the board’s wishes, as he is only one man. I agree, in fact I believe that it would take a joint-effort on the behalf of our teachers, and principal to restore Poly PRIDE, as without any support our Principal is left without any wings to fly. Now the absurdity of opening against the board. While a grand concept, if I have learned anything this year, it is that bureaucratic agencies, such as the RUSD school board, are incompetent at making any progress. It only takes one to spark a change, and why can’t that change be Poly, perhaps the staple school in Riverside city. This isn’t some radical call to arms, or violence, rather a wish for change to the people that can make it happen, and I hope you the reader can understand this. It is with my utmost and dearest optimism that you consider this, as I don’t have much more sympathy for this unnecessary situation.