School Funding Among Topics at 2nd ‘Speak Out’
By Beverly Carroll
Saturday, January 23, 2004
Chattanooga Times Free Press
The difficult questions ranged from foreign affairs to school funding, but no one was graded on their answers. The questions were part of a daylong discussion involving 120 Hamilton County high school students Friday at the second annual 'Students Speak Out' event. 'I love hearing students speak their opinions,' Red Bank junior Kate Downey said. 'And there are people listening to our voices.'
In nine sessions the students discussed topics ranging from what a senior year should be like to the pros and cons of year-round schools and whether abstinence-only and drug awareness education programs are effective.
Members of the Superintendent’s Student Advisory Council, made up of two students from each of the district’s 17 high schools, selected the topics. 'This is the second year we have done this,' schools Superintendent Jesse Register said. 'The discussions are so much deeper, and the kids leading the discussions are so thoughtful.'
The event brings together high school students to talk about issues they identified, Dr. Register said. The Public Education Foundation helped fund the event, which included lunch.
While wrestling with international politics, school funding and the benefits of career academies, students made passionate and reasoned arguments to defend their diverse opinions.
Miss Downey argued that America has the right to inspect other countries for weapons of mass destruction. The United States has the right because other countries seek U.S. aid and because some have threatened and harmed Americans, she said.
Ooltewah High School sophomore Sarah Lusk asked if America should feel obligated to invade other countries. And if the United States demands to enter other countries, what is to stop others from entering America to inspect for weapons, she asked. 'We never did agree,' Sarah said. 'But it’s interesting to see how other students think and to have to justify your own opinion. You really do see how people’s backgrounds affect their opinions.'
Ooltewah High School senior Jake Proffitt, a coleader of the international session, said it is important for students to examine international issues.
'This is something we are going to have to think about,' he said.
Students brought ideas to the sessions, but they also took away new knowledge, Chattanooga School for the Arts and Sciences senior Nattaly Perryman said. 'When students heard that it costs $7,100 a year to educate a student and the state only provides $2,000, I saw a lot of their faces drop,' she said.
Students also wanted to know how schools are funded and who decided how much they get. Some said they believe the average citizen doesn’t care about public education. 'The people who care are the ones who are involved,' Central High School senior Adam Metlock said.
Howard High School sophomore Vanessa Brown said she changed her opinion after a session on year-round schooling that explained the staggered scheduling. 'Before, I disagreed with year-round schooling,' the 16-yearold said. 'What I heard changed my mind.'
Students said they appreciated the chance to voice their opinions.
'I think administrators and officials are listening,' Miss Lusk said. 'I think they do want to hear our input. Times change, and they see how students feel. We will have a voice.'