Typically, editorial pieces in school newspapers serve to criticize the administration, and in many ways, the Tattler editorial board lives up to this stereotype. However, we must take a minute to thank ICSD and IHS administration for consistently listening to the student body. All administrations have to be flexible and dynamic enough to change when change is required. Students will always criticize their administration, but this should be celebrated, because student activism can create that dynamism in a school administration, and students will gain a confidence that will allow them to advocate for change their whole lives. The responsiveness of ICSD and IHS administrators has been especially evident this year, and students may find themselves thinking of Mr. Trumble and the Big Bad Board in a different light.
Most recently, there was a student walkout March 14. Students at IHS joined students around the country by standing outside the school in the bus loop for 17 minutes to commemorate victims of the Parkland shooting and advocate for gun control. Although the administration could not condone students leaving campus during school, they allowed students to protest safely; Mr. Trumble gave an announcement after the walkout thanking the students for the organized fashion of the protest, and students reported feeling safe and supported by the administration. In comparison, other high schools discouraged or punished students for protesting. Students will not always be so supported in their protests, but hopefully this experience built students’ confidence in the administration and in their ability to protest.
Also this year, IHS received attention from national news when a group of student activists protested the casting in the IHS musical, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, over concerns of “white-washing” and racial diversity. Last month, the ICSD Board of Education (BoE) enacted almost all of the demands of “Students United Ithaca.” Hunchback was canceled, and another musical, Hairspray, started in its place with a new director, consistent with the demands of students. Related discussions at a recent ICSD BoE meeting have even led to the beginning of a dialogue about teaching anti-racism in the classroom. Students were encouraged to join committees to further develop the ideas brought up.
Although the BoE took relatively quick action to cancel the musical and start another, this is not always the case. This year, students saw the results of a long discussion on factoring music classes into the GPA. This issue was brought up at a student council meeting last year, and the Tattler published four articles in support. However, students grew frustrated with the administration’s slow response, even turning the school’s new core values (Compassion, Integrity, Ownership, and Tenacity) against them, calling for the school to live up to its own standards. In this case, though, the administration was not negligent. The bureaucratic response takes time, and in fall 2017, students received an email that the policy had changed, and music classes would be included in GPA.
Although the issue with the Hunchback musical was quickly resolved, the discussion about casting musicals revealed other similar cases, where complaints did not result in significant change. Ideally, an issue such as this could be looked into and addressed as soon as a complaint is made. However, the administration is not all-knowing. If a person wants to bring a complaint before the BoE, it may be challenging to demonstrate that others have the same opinion. This year, the Tattler has attempted to fill that gap and amplify the student voice through school-wide surveys via email. One particularly interesting survey asked students about their experiences with the dress code at IHS. Instead of one student speaking up about the dress code, we magnified that to 403 respondents on a survey. Students commented that they felt embarrassed, upset, and discriminated against through the enforcement of the dress code. We hope to continue to magnify the student voice and reveal issues that may be more widespread than previously thought.
One thing we learned while writing the editorial about the dress code was that the dress code had actually already been changed, and some of our ideas already implemented. The dress code had previously targeted girls, describing the precise length of shorts and size of spaghetti straps allowed. Those sections had disappeared, and been replaced with a ban on “excessively revealing” clothing. However, the change was never communicated with students. This finding brought to light another facet: the communication between students and the administration must go two ways. Students must be able to have their voice be heard by the administration, but the administration must also communicate their actions to the students. Yet again, a closer look will show that the BoE has already thought about this. Dr. Brown’s Twitter and the email sent to students about music in GPA are just two examples of the administration reaching out and trying to get on student’s wavelength. We hope they will continue to search for new avenues for communication.
Even a good administration, run by adults who ultimately only have good intentions for the young adults they oversee, needs to be criticized. This is not an invitation to stay quiet because the administration has it handled. This is an invitation to stand up and let your voice be heard, because at IHS, it might just make a difference.