A cultural shift is in the San Mateo Union High School District is
underway, as students are leading an effort to make their schools more
inclusive and accepting of all lifestyles.
Schools throughout the district are overhauling long-standing
customs such as how students are recognized at the annual homecoming
event, the design of the former powder-puff football game, the allowed
graduation garb and signs on bathroom doors which welcome transgender students, among other efforts.
These changes to some of the pillars of the high school experience represent a larger effort by students, teachers, staff and administrators to move away from cultural norms of previous generations, in an attempt to create a more welcoming environment for all students, said Superintendent Kevin Skelly
Ghajarrahimi said she and her fellow classmates feel empowered by the ability to change traditions they do not feel are representatives of their generation’s beliefs.
“It makes me feel very good to see the growth of my school,” she said. “We can see the changes that have happened and the student body feels like their voices are being heard more.”
(Ghajarrahimi is a student at Aragon High School.)
To read the entire article :http://www.smdailyjournal.com/articles/lnews/2015-11-02/high-school-students-drive-cultural-revolution-inclusion-acceptance-equity-become-focus-of-new-campus-lifestyle/1776425152863.html
Do you think this is an accurate representation of all the high schools in the San Mateo High School? Do you think that the changes that are being made are inclusive and fair to all student? Do you feel that your voice and student body is equally heard as Aragon High School? Are there different solutions to these issues, if so what do you suggest? Are there other issues the district should focus on to create a more inclusive environment at high schools?
I think that it is great the the SMUHSD is attempting to become more inclusive towards all of its students, but I think that the way these changes are being implemented, specifically at BHS, could use some revising. At BHS administration seems to be taking into consideration the student body opinion after the fact and are not actually taking the students' opinions seriously. In terms of solutions to these issues, I think what would lead to more positive reactions by the students to these changes would be open forum before they make changes. Forcing change without input has lead to frustration throughout the school, which has also brought up a negative connotation in terms of bringing change.
ReplyDeleteThe District is working hard to make all high schools within the area more inclusive towards the entirety of the student populations. However, the process and methods of implementing these changes have been inefficient and at times counterproductive to their end goals. Burlingame's Administration and their failure to consult with the student body has led to difficulty and resentment not with the changes themselves, but rather the process.
ReplyDeleteI think it is great that the district is being more inclusive. Times have changed over the last few years and it is nice that the district recognizes this and fixes issues. However, as a student, I do not feel like my voice is heard. I am not sure how they could change that, but I don't feel like students are able to be heard very easily.
ReplyDeleteI'm totally in support of all the good stuff that BHS is doing towards fostering stronger progressive ideals. I'm very impressed at how our ideas of what gender can be has for the most part shifted since just last year. I know very few people who oppose those issues. Some people do have a tendency to make fun of different things so that is problem (perhaps a human flaw). I agree with Nate's sentiment that my voice isn't heard as loudly as I would like.
ReplyDeleteIt is a great deal that the district is beginning to change and keep up with the social norms in this day and age of society. Although we are changing for the better by beginning to break down the barriers between gender norms and cultural differences, at least trying to, I still feel that some schools have a better system of hearing the voices of the students than others. I applaud Aragon's system in which they can clearly hear and help take into action the voices of their student body, however, looking at our school I see that the measures taking place are more cautious than actually wanting change. The current administration at BHS seeks to eradicate the gender bias and create an opportunity for those still in question about their sexual identity however their attempt to fix the problem only created more turmoil as they misinterpreted the students' voice for their own. There is work to be done in terms of communication, but ever so slightly the district is moving the right direction.
ReplyDeleteThe attempts at making SMUHSD more inclusive are a step in the right direction, but there seems to be no real positive effect at BHS. It seems there is a focus on the issues of a couple students rather than a view of the entire student body. While it is important for all people's voices to be heard, it is not fair to subject an entire population of students to a single individual's opinion. There needs to be more of an open dialogue between faculty and students so there is a more cooperative approach to school issues. There always seems to be something lost in translation when the administration administers a new policy where it only serves as a nuisance to students because they do not understand the purpose of the change.
ReplyDeleteThere is not doubt that what SMUHSD is doing is important to remain inclusive of all the different walks of life that people come from. But, there is only so much they can do before it comes down to the students. Putting different signs on the bathroom is not something that BHS does, which shows a lack of enforcement in the district as a whole. If they do not try to enforce these inclusive efforts equally and at all schools district-wide, there is a good chance that these changes will not happen. The few things that have happened at BHS have brought criticism from people regarding why they should be catering to the minority and have to go out of their way to help them. Nothing says supremacy like that, and it will take real enforcement from higher-ups in the district as a whole to make these changes because as of right now, no attitudes have changed and students have only become more frustrated.
ReplyDeleteI agree that is important to respect and include all lifestyles within the student body. At BHS, although the intentions are good, their process of implementation has only met resistance from the students themselves. The process by which they are attempting to alter traditions like powderpuff or our graduation gowns is led almost entirely by administration. The lack of student involvement and support throughout the changes has led to a general unhappiness among BHS students. While their motives for inclusiveness are important, their strategies and sudden changes may be sending the wrong message to students.
ReplyDeleteI agree that is important to respect and include all lifestyles within the student body. At BHS, although the intentions are good, their process of implementation has only met resistance from the students themselves. The process by which they are attempting to alter traditions like powderpuff or our graduation gowns is led almost entirely by administration. The lack of student involvement and support throughout the changes has led to a general unhappiness among BHS students. While their motives for inclusiveness are important, their strategies and sudden changes may be sending the wrong message to students.
ReplyDeleteBHS allows students to have a lot of freedom, and its great to see schools change to be more respectful to others. However, sometimes things can be taken to an extreme, which can backfire. For example, the graduation gowns this year. To avoid gender specifics, the SMUHSD decided to have all red gowns for BHS. However, this lead to many students being upset. What they thought was a good idea turned into something more hectic and chaotic than it was worth. This uprising in gown colors goes to show that students at BHS do have a voice if many stand up together.
ReplyDeleteWhile it is evident that society with this generation is experiencing a significant shift in becoming more open and accepting to various sexualities and genders, the varying reactions to the changes made within SMUHSD are very surprising. One would think that growing up in California, let alone the Bay Area, more high school students would be pleased by these adjustments to such high school events. However, from what I was exposed to, an unexpectedly high amount of attitudes toward the announced changes were immediately negative and disapproving. Yet after several student council meetings with students opposing the changes, inquiring, "Why are we the only district having to change our traditions?" and "Why doesn't the rest of the country have to change too?" In response, a student stood up and explained that we, as students of Burlingame High School, should be proud of ourselves. And should we compare our district with those around us, we must acknowledge that we are serving as role models for our neighboring schools within our state and to every other state. We are taking action by planting the seed to grow a society of equality, justice, security, and happiness; And for that, we are changing the game forever.
ReplyDeleteI think that many of the schools in the school district, including ours, are going through changes that are, in my opinion, positive and necessary for the furthering of acceptance of other sexualities and genders. There was a lot of drama due to the graduation gowns and homecoming courts this semester, but I believe that we were given many opportunities to have our voices heard. There was a forum for the change in the Homecoming Bowl and many surveys that students could have participated in. Although there are still deeply ingrained social prejudices that will take a long time to eradicate, I'm proud of the steps our school has taken to take into mind the preferences and identities of the students.
ReplyDeleteIt is obviously not an accurate representation because the people who are pushing for all these "cultural" changes make up a very small percentage of the population. While we should respect everyone in the school district, I do believe that it is important to stay with what is already in place and not remodel the school system because of a few people who have different cultural views. Nobody is hearing my voice because I know that the majority of students share the same viewpoint as me yet the new legislation continues to be passed without any regard for the people who want things to stay the way they are. There is nothing wrong with our school district and as the saying goes, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it."
ReplyDelete