Despite the cold weather this morning, about 60 Montclair High School students gathered on the corner of Park Street and Chestnut at 8 a.m. to protest against New Jersey’s education budget cuts as part of a state-wide school walk out.
Students came with signs, a guitar and even a trumpet as they stood on the corner trying to get cars to “honk for education.” They also started several chants, “What do we want? Money! When do we want it? Now!” and “No more budget cuts!”
One senior was disappointed in the turnout saying there are 2,000 students here at MHS and more should have come.
The state wide school walk out was organized this weekend over Facebook.
MHS senior Karen Abbott was outside protesting for the education budget cuts on behalf of her younger sister, who has more years left in the school system. “It’s just cold right now,” she said. “More people will come after second period.”
More students are expected to leave classes after second period because that’s when attendance is taken.
Principal Earle sent a note to parents that school is going on as planned:
Sent: Tue, Apr 27, 2010 8:14 am
Subject: STUDENT WALKOUTWe have received information regarding a potential “walkout” by students in protest of State Budget Cuts. Several media outlets have come or contacted the school this morning. Apparently this event is taking place throughout the State of New Jersey. According to the information we received, many students are planning to walkout during the morning hours between 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. We plan to proceed with a regular day of school and record attendance as we have all year. I will provide you with more information as it becomes available.
James Earle Principal
Montclair High School
Crowd photo at top of post by R. Zumstein.
I can never quite understand how cutting classes constitutes an effective, commendable, even vaguely understandable “protest” against budget cuts.
But then, nary a one of these kids is yet a taxpayer him or herself, either.
Wait, they only take attendance once? When I was a boy, they took attendance in home room and distributed a list to each teacher who then reconciled the list against who showed up to class.
Not to go all copy editor here, but can we get some proofreading on this piece? “More should have came”? “Thats when…”? And some dodgy punctuation. It looks like a first draft…..
Oliver, she filed fast and I just got into copy-edit.
Wow–quick fixes!
Shame on the teacher’s union, the department of education, and the teachers themselves for using these students as pawns to shill for their interests.
“What do we want? Money! When do we want it? Now!”
Are you sure it’s the students out there and not the teacher’s union?
Also, the sign from the second photo “No student left behind? How about no teacher left behind!” is kind of sad.
Both are incredibly stupid, ultimately disastrous to the educational process, ideas.
(and someone should have told her the program is “No CHILD left behind” not “student”.)
Although these student’s heart is in the right place, most of them really have no idea what the real issues are and don’t have the life experiences that an adult has to have an informed opinion. I am sure teachers are in their ear telling them that the evil Governor is going to fire all of us and the quality of their education will suffer. The economics of the situation is what they are missing. There is no better evidence of this than “What do we want? Money! When do we want it? Now!” I feel bad for these kids, statements like that make them look like a joke.
These children don’t pay taxes yet. It is so easy to spend someone else’s money.
600 parents protesting that they want to pay the higher taxes for education would be impressive.
How many of these kids aren’t going to be honest with mom and dad about cutting class for 2 hours to protest mom and dad not spending enough on them ?
I’d be terrified that my mom would drive by, see me cutting class and drag me back into the school. The few out there who know my mom know she would have done it !
“What do we want? Salary freezes, pay into healthcare, and a 401k retirement plans for teachers!! When do we want it? NOW!”
I think it is sadder that as an adult you troll high school facebook pages…
It would be great if a few hundred of the recently unemployed or underemployed members of our community were to setup a counter protest across the street chanting just that.
Kumbaya.
Every kid should be suspended upon their return to the classromm.
Whats this 1972?
The link to the page was provided in the story above as context.(maybe they hyperlinked the “Facebook” so people could go and view the page) I am sorry you think I was trolling, but it still does not take away the fact that our current MHS Student population use a pejorative term and common homophobic slur against lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people along with profanity and complete and utter mis-use of the English language.
The kids are getting one side of the story from their teachers in school, which is inappropriate. It sounds to me like they are creating peer pressure on this issue, which is also inappropriate.
If the teachers want to discuss this in school, why are they not required to approach this as a “teaching moment” discussing both sides if the issue rather than a lobbying moment to promote their own economic interests?
Do these young people understand the other side – that uncontrolled tax increases are sucking the $ out of their parents’ wallets and equity out of their homes? I hope these young people think about this in the context of how much money their parents have to send them to the college of their choice.
Sweet! You go kids! Love it that you’re active and taking an interest in the process.
Herb, if a group of kids cut class to attend a local Tea Party rally, go ahead and be the first to demand their suspension, and you’ll be consistent in your views.
I am guessing that some of the teachers are embarrassed by this display, and if not, they should be. The sad thing is that there are a few kids in the crowd who probably, legitimately, know what is going on, and are exercising their right to peacefully assemble (something they probably learned in school). The others….eh, your typical sheep who saw an opportunity to cut class.
Nice day off from classes, nice day to get your picture in the paper or on a web site such as Baristanet. 60 students, 150 students…out of how many? THAT’S the real story here.
That’s 3% of the student body. Meh.
I do not mind the student protest, having done so the same years ago; but I expect all of these guys to do an analysis of the topic.
- What is the budget development of the BOE/town in the last 10 years?
- What is the median income development over the last 10 years for public employees vs private sector?
- whats total compensation vs salary?
- what the cost of living index development over the last 10 years ?
etc.pp.
Why are some of you assuming that the teachers put the kids up to this? It’s as if ALL the teachers share the same brain, and beliefs. I know of several who actually understand the situation, and are sympathetic to the tax payers in this community, but are fed up with being continuously disrespected. This is like saying that all (insert your favorite minority group here) do (what ever racist/prejudiced thought you were taught.
“Why are some of you assuming that the teachers put the kids up to this? ”
Because of the kids who are coming home touting one side of this issue to their parents at the dinner table. Then parents learning that the teachers had used classroom time to discuss the one side of issue, and the parents having to do the actual teaching moment of telling the other side of the story ie: how it could cost the family the roof over their heads.
I bet a lot of the kids in class are the ones that had those dinner time chats with their parents already.
What makes you say that? Ah, Once again throwing stuff against the wall and seeing what sticks. I always enjoy repsonding to your “Herb baiting” sort of like debating one of the students in the photos, no match for the Great Herb and his debating skills and arsenal of facts. Like taking candy from a baby.
JDP, I couldn’t agree more.
Rubber Chix, and others, how do you know that the teachers even mentioned this in the classroom at all? You don’t think the majority of the teachers in NJ will keep things professional in the classroom, despite what they may think of the budget issue? It’s a shame if you do think that, you’re not really giving them much credit.
I love how all the folks who support the cuts are so positive that the kids don’t understand and are being brainwashed. If they were properly informed they’d all agree with you, right?
I am basing my comment based on what my kids tell me about the class discussions and other comments from their teachers, and what I read.
I am sure that not all the teachers feel the same way on this, privately. But is anyone discussing all sides of the issue in class?
Oy. The teachers, and all public employees, just have benefits packages that are not sustainable without asking taxpayers to continually cough up more.
How’s this: Full pension if you start to collect at age 65. 15% off that if you start collecting when you’re 62. And no pension if you leave your position before you’re 58.
My husband has a pension plan that kicks in at a discount if he works until he’s 62 and gets full benefits at 65. And it’s nowhere near 60% of his income. More like 20%.
3% of the student body is hardly the Million Man March. Heck, it’s not even a protest a Berkeley in the ’60s. Move along.
Given all the belt tightening throughout the town, and throughout the state, there are more and more groups protesting that “it’s not fair” that they are seeing their budgets being slashed. Whether it’s the library, or the schools.
What I hope would be discussed in the schools is the financial mess we are ALL in. Start from the top. Unfunded mandates. Underfunded pensions.
In the Town, expenses keep going up and revenues down. This is what should be discussed. Someone recently said “when you find yourself in a hole the first thing you should do is stop digging.”
At the Senior Center meetings of just a month or so ago a great group of kids came up in support of the center. It was the decent thing to do they said. The Seniors deserve it. Well, they do. But one speaker then went on to say:
“You have plenty of money. You can afford this!”
That seems to be the attitude. THEY are doing this to us and YOU have plenty of money.
Who is the “THEY?” And WHO has the money?
When your wallet is EMPTY it is EMPTY. When you’ve run up all your credit cards and there is no credit left you can’t spend.
And when the Governor says “For every dollar you tax your citizens above the cap, I will take a dollar away from your aid,” the proper response is not to hold a protest in hopes that he will change his mind.
For all the people who have wrote me saying “you can’t cut ….. (fill in the blank)” NO ONE has said: “Here’s an alternative.”
The bank is closed folks.
Cary Africk
2nd Ward Councilor
What many of these kids fail to realize is the negative impact that this is having on their parents. Maybe they get through high school without having to move, but how are they going to feel about this issue when their little brothers and sisters are going to Bloomfield High or Cedar Grove (not that there is anything wrong with those towns, its just not the towns they grew up in) when their parents get taxed out of Montclair? I don’t blame these few kids, they just don’t understand the economics of the situation.
complete and utter mis-use of the English language.
Coming from you Kyle, that’s hilarious.
So a bunch of kids decided to express their right to peaceably assemble. Good for them. A learning experience, at least.
“Great Herb and his debating skills and arsenal of facts. ”
Sure, Herb, but the only fact you posted on this thread was the accurate name of a campfire song.
The rest was pure bluster.
The post was simply a comment with a hint of humor. Unfortunately, libs lack that trait.
You might change your mind after watching Foster Brooks roast Hubert Humphrey on the Dean Martin Show.
It’s available on YouTube.
“What do we want? Money! When do we want it? Now!”
Says it all……..
or maybe this right from the Facebook Page
Reggie Chavis: if mugs are to scared to skip a day f**k emmm
or
Andrew Hawryluk: You f*gs don’t even know why you are protesting. I would like to hear anyone but Dan Cruz’s arguments against the budget cuts.
Terrible, both comments use profane language and Mr. Hawryluk parents should be disgusted with his use of the the second word in his post.
Sad to say the least!
I am a student at MHS and i would just like to say that all of the above parents are insensitive and they should stop being such downers. We stood up for what we believed in and had fun in the process. Personally, i got interviewed by fios news 1 and i said what i had to and tried to get our message across. And that mug who tried to make reggie chavis look bad you should go die. hes an awesome kid and one of my bros. Chill with the harsh comments and realize that the kids will do what they want and you should support them
I’d like to thank “ollie5feet” above for recharging my belief in the efficacy of public education. He sounds so loving and open-hearted, too.
I am so happy too, ollie, that you had, uh, “fun” earlier today.
ollie,
sadly he made himself look bad
sorry but the truth hurts sometimes……..
I’m also a student at MHS and I took part in the protest today. Reading the negative comments on this story was discouraging and made me really upset. Even though 150 students is a small percentage of the student body, it doesn’t make our protest any less of an accomplishment. The fact that even that amount of students was unified in one cause was pretty amazing to me, considering the event was organized by students, over Facebook. Not only that, but most of us didn’t see it as a way to get away with cutting; my friends and I all went back to class when the protest was breaking up. Not only that, but a lot of kids really do understand the situation, and those that don’t are still doing something good by making their voices heard and experiencing their right to assemble and right to free speech first hand. We like our school and our teachers, and all we wanted to do today was protect those who are educating us as the next generation of leaders in America. It is absurd to say that we were “brainwashed” by unhappy teachers. This event was completely student organized, in the interest of our education. I was offended by the assumption that we are just the “pawns” of the teachers or just some dumb kids looking to skip class. The students of Montclair truly care, so please don’t insult us by dismissing today’s protest as childish and dumb.
Here’s to hoping that there is no retribution in store for the kids who declined to participate in this farce.
Nobody listen to Jon, (ollie5feet) he does not represent the majority of the students protesting today. Most students wouldn’t use the words “mug” “chill” and “bro” while appealing their intelligence to a group of adults.
I myself am a student at MHS, and I took part in the protest for a period or two this morning. I wasn’t going to partake originally, as I don’t feel that I’m educated enough on the subject to feel that strongly against it. However, after less than a quarter of my third period class showed up, our teacher pretty much just let us go. (It was a double-block period)
I heard no “What do we want? MONEY!” chants at all. All I heard was “What do we want? NO CUTS!” I do agree that a percentage of the students were there because it was the “cool thing” to be doing today, or simply because it was an excuse to cut class. However, there really were some who felt strongly for the cause and were very well-educated on it.
Please don’t stereotype the students like you all are on here…Give us more credit than that. Some of us really are more than sheep.
“You might change your mind after watching Foster Brooks roast Hubert Humphrey on the Dean Martin Show.”
Your usual d’bag logic and luddite distortion, Albert G. Yesterday’s liberals are today’s conservatives cuz radlibs like you hijacked the Dems. Liberals today are actually hard left SDS types, Symbionese murderers, racialist hustlers ala Jesse Jerkson, and mostly boomer useless idiots and their spawn, too many of whom infest the 3 branches of Gov’t.
I’d like to say a few things,
first of all in response to how teachers are being written up to be as these evil people who are greedily making the students protest to keep their rich salaries that is completely false. Most teachers absolutely do not make nearly as much as the stats put out saying that teachers were making 90 or 80 thousand… in fact I asked most of my teachers, yes I am a student the “ballpark” of their salaries, which all were considerably less.
Secondly yes teachers as government workers, and due to a strong union they receive excellent benefits but HEY maybe they deserve it, in a town like Montclair where you pay to have a good public education system, maybe, just maybe it is not a terrible thing to have some well educated teachers.
Thirdly, no my teachers actually told me that class was mandatory and all my teachers decline any opinion on the budget cuts. I imagine the reason that they don’t is because they’re worried that they’ll get blamed in the case of some type of protest such as this one. Believe it or not the students actual believe that this budget cuts are cheating us from a good education.
Lastly this site is wrong, according to sites such as NBC there were 1000 students throughout the protest. I provided the link below, they mention Montclair in the 35th second.
http://abclocal.go.com/wabc/video?id=7409318&syndicate=syndicate§ion=
sorry **ABC not NBC
@mhsstudent, first a teaching moment. The proper syntax is “number of students”, not “amount of students”.
And to the substance of your comment and that of caseybangs, I heard the originator of the Facebook post interviewed on the news last night, and she stated that one reason she started the walk-out was that teachers were too poor to contribute to the cost of their health insurance. I’d have to disagree with that one. While it is possible but unlikely that some teachers are too poor, the vast majority can certainly afford to contribute, just like the private sector workers who are taxed to pay the teachers. And teachers are just being asked to also accept a pay freeze. That would still keep them in a better position than those in the private sector who have lost their jobs.
@TheCount2…
Thank you SO much for focusing on a small syntax error instead of the valid points I made. I really appreciate it.
mhsstudent,
You and your peers are to be commended for taking a stand on an issue that is important to you specifically and the community more broadly.
May I ask if you have a solution or suggestion, however? The state is deeply in debt, but at the same time, NJ citizens are taxed at crippling levels. Moreover, our taxes have been going up at the same time that for many of us, our businesses have suffered, our hours been cut, our paychecks reduced, and/or we’ve lost our jobs outright. I do not exaggerate when I say that of a dozen families I know well enough to know how they’re doing financially, only 1 has not taken a significant, if not crippling, economic hit in the last 2 years. That’s 11 of 12 who are struggling, several of whom are weighing moving out of state because they can’t afford NJ any more.
Cutting educational spending is few people’s first choice. But where is the money to come from? It’s the largest spending category–if it’s not cut, what can be cut?
SmallBizOwner-
Thank you! I totally understand the dilemma of the budget as well as what you’re saying. Personally, I think the education cuts are being made in the wrong way. For instance, why hire a new football coach who is getting paid more than it costs to run the entire gymnastics team, which was the only sports team to get cut? One of my teachers was talking about a finger printing system or scannable ID cards to decrease tardies and classes being cut. Why fund those expensive things when we’re short on funding already? These are just some quick examples I can think of off the top of my head, but I’m sure if it was investigated more, there would be better ways to save money than firing teachers and cutting extracurriculars and even world languages.
Cary, with the way the council and BOE are raising our property taxes it seems to me that the bank is not closed. Perhaps you should save your sermons for church. Maybe they tolerate hypocrisy more than me.
This commenting system is badly broken.
Now I must post this to get “Kyle M,” the dastardly devil in question’s, attention, as the other post was not set as a reply to him with a hyperlink attached.
Dear sir:
Please read the above comment posted by myself, badboy59.
Adieu.
Lighten up, f*ggot.
You are probably over 50 years old complaining about an 18 year old using a derogatory word on the Internet.
When you click on one of these “hyperlinks,” as I think you later referred to them, which directs you outside of your liberal palisade of Baristanet, you should not expect to see everything all neat and left-aligned like you do on this website. There is a worldwide web out there and sometimes you will see things you do not like.
So next time before you whine about someone using a naughty word on the Internet, I suggest you peruse the other utes of this town’s Facebook profiles and see the naughty things they are doing in this economically and politically misguided town. If you think the word “F*g” is profane, try and expose yourself to a bit more profane content than a Glenn Beck rant before thinking dirty thoughts while viewing Barack Obama’s inauguration speech on repeat and criticizing a teenager over the Internet, you left-wing wacko.
And now before my mommy and daddy spank my bum for speaking disrespectfully, I bid you good eve.
PS – Aren’t you glad I hyperlinked to that Two Utes video? Aren’t hyperlinks cool? You can CLICK THEM…and then on your computer…you go to it! Boy – what a world!
@mhsstudent, I guess you were absent the day they taught that lesson.
I quite clearly addressed the other points raised in your post. Unfortunately the student demonsration proposed no solution to the budget problems, only a complaint.
I am an MHS student, and regretfully I must say I am disappointed in my peers in an overall sense. I resent the fact that the students who are willing to compromise their class time to blindly stand up for a cause are the ones to get attention from the news, and the students who attend board of ed meetings and school review meetings are ignored. Some of us genuinely care and are interested about this issue of budget cuts, and sacrifice our free time to become more educated on the topic.
I initially was against the protest, but must admit, that my second period class was boring, so I went outside to participate. Although I only engaged in the protesting for a mere 45 minutes, the feeling of community amongst the students (along with the ‘group think’ and ‘mob mentality’) was very powerful and uplifting. When I would correct people about the facts on their signs, they would roll their eyes and continue to chant in ignorance.
I resent the students who make a bad name for those who spend hours in CGI learning about the cuts and are aware of the issues at hand. It is just very disappointing to know that the spotlight falls on the kids who cut class, and not the kids who spoke face to face with Christie.
Although I do not believe in the cuts that christie is making to education, I believe the problem lies in our town. The fact that we, as a town, offered roughly $70,000 as a starting salary to a teacher to leave her district and begin teaching a new language in ours is baffling. The fact that each member of the union had an equal say in the vote regarding pay freezes, when they voted to only freeze the salaries of those employees who are on step sixteen – when they are clearly a majority – is confusing to me as well. Teacher’s on step 15, who have less experience, may end up making more money than those on step sixteen the following year, because they will be receiving raises. Therefore the newly hired teacher with a very high starting salary will also be receiving a raise. There are also problems in the need to fulfill state mandates, such as four years of physical education.
Today in school we discussed a quote from Spike Lee that said something along the lines of, “Parents are the biggest killers of dreams.” I was in full disagreement when I read that, until now; seeing all of these parents complain about the ignorance of the children. From the constant correcting of grammar (on a website used for people to bitch about the goings on in a town) it seems as though you expect the teachers to hold children to a higher standard and stick to the curriculum, however you also expect them to educate your children about the budget cuts. If you are so concerned with the ignorance of the kids, you should do something about it, because I agree that this is an issue, but there is not much I can do.
This is getting a little excessive, and I apologize, but I would like to address the people who are concerned with the usage of derogatory terms by children. Although you may see it as inappropriate, it is a common to see in the evolution of language that a derogatory term will be used to substitute a negative word. I’m sure you all suggest to your kids to use the words ‘lame’ or ‘dumb’ because you find them to be less offensive. They seem to be softer only because they are socially acceptable, however they are referring individuals that cannot walk and talk.
The problems are all within our school, and I truly believe that listening to the students would be the most effective way to save money. By talking to the students and seeing where money is wasted and where it is well spent, I think it would help to re-evaulate
I am an MHS student, and regretfully I must say I am disappointed in my peers in an overall sense. I resent the fact that the students who are willing to compromise their class time to blindly stand up for a cause are the ones to get attention from the news, and the students who attend board of ed meetings and school review meetings are ignored. Some of us genuinely care and are interested about this issue of budget cuts, and sacrifice our free time to become more educated on the topic.
I initially was against the protest, but must admit, that my second period class was boring, so I went outside to participate. Although I only engaged in the protesting for a mere 45 minutes, the feeling of community amongst the students (along with the ‘group think’ and ‘mob mentality’) was very powerful and uplifting. When I would correct people about the facts on their signs, they would roll their eyes and continue to chant in ignorance.
I resent the students who make a bad name for those who spend hours in CGI learning about the cuts and are aware of the issues at hand. It is just very disappointing to know that the spotlight falls on the kids who cut class, and not the kids who spoke face to face with Christie.
Although I do not believe in the cuts that christie is making to education, I believe the problem lies in our town. The fact that we, as a town, offered roughly $70,000 as a starting salary to a teacher to leave her district and begin teaching a new language in ours is baffling. The fact that each member of the union had an equal say in the vote regarding pay freezes, when they voted to only freeze the salaries of those employees who are on step sixteen – when they are clearly a majority – is confusing to me as well. Teachers on step 15, who have less experience, may end up making more money than those on step sixteen the following year, because they will be receiving raises. Therefore the newly hired teacher with a very high starting salary will also be receiving a raise. There are also problems in the need to fulfill state mandates, such as four years of physical education.
Today in school we discussed a quote from Spike Lee that said something along the lines of, “Parents are the biggest killers of dreams.” I was in full disagreement when I read that, until now; seeing all of these parents complain about the ignorance of the children. From the constant correcting of grammar (on a website used for people to bitch about the goings on in a town) it seems as though you expect the teachers to hold children to a higher standard and stick to the curriculum, however you also expect them to educate your children about the budget cuts. If you are so concerned with the ignorance of the kids, you should do something about it, because I agree that this is an issue, but there is not much I can do.
This is getting a little excessive, and I apologize, but I would like to address the people who are concerned with the usage of derogatory terms by children. Although you may see it as inappropriate, it is a common to see in the evolution of language that a derogatory term will be used to substitute a negative word. I’m sure you all suggest to your kids to use the words ‘lame’ or ‘dumb’ because you find them to be less offensive. They seem to be softer only because they are socially acceptable, however they are referring individuals that cannot walk and talk.
The problems are all within our school, and I truly believe that listening to the students would be the most effective way to save money. By talking to the students and seeing where money is wasted and where it is well spent, I think it would help to reevaluate the distribution of the funds. Furthermore, I believe that pay freezes should be across the board, and not just for the teachers on step sixteen. I pay income taxes (contrary to what a previous poster said about the students) and I did not receive a raise this year, along with millions of others across the nation.
I am not one-sided on this issue at all, and I’m sure I’m not the only student who wishes my voice was hear by someone. I don’t think that the kids are being brainwashed by their teachers or their peers, but by the community as a whole. Students are all just being defensive, which is a natural initial response when threatened with their school’s money being taken (most likely equated with robbery.)
This is really long and probably no one will read this whole thing. Be nice to the kids, help educate them, and ignore Mr. Hawryluk, as we have all learned to do at MHS.
Hey! You will not talk about me like that!
I like the typos in your speech. Check out mine – there were none. Can you believe that? I am pretty great, aren’t I?
Reveal yourself.
badboy59,
I am only 10yrs your elder, first.
I am a registered Republican, and spent 30+hrs of my free time making campaign calls for the current Governor. That aside, your language is hateful and disrespectful. Your last two enters were a sad example of how pathetic and closed minded you are, and I regret to say that. It is unfortunate that you show such disrespect to people of different sexual orientation as you. Tolerance is not something that comes easy or early in life, hopefully you will one day see the light! College awaits you then a job, I doubt you will act like this when Mommy and Daddy, as you stated, stop paying your freight.
Good Luck
badboy59,
“try and expose yourself to a bit more profane content than a Glenn Beck rant before thinking dirty thoughts while viewing Barack Obama’s inauguration speech on repeat and criticizing a teenager over the Internet, you left-wing wacko.”
Even though it is the complete opposite of me, it wasn’t a bad rant against a liberal if I was one…..
I think badboy is the spawn of whatsupwiththat.
I’m a republican, too. I care about politics.
SIKE HAHAHAH
(im a e-samarai)