Schools

Wilkinsburg Students Demand Better Environment for Education in Protest

Local students gathered Wednesday in a peaceful protest to get the administration's attention.

For many Wilkinsburg High School students, Wednesday afternoon marked the time for change.

Lining the sidewalk in front of the Wilkinsburg School District, more than 30 people looked toward the building’s doors holding signs and wearing shirts with the same message: “violence in school, low expectations, no opportunity, no incentives.” On the back—”Hear Us.”

“It’s more than a T-shirt,” said Jordan Howard, 17, a junior at the school. “I feel as though we are not being heard and it was time to take action.”

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Howard is one of several students who helped to through

One of the many issues Howard wants the district to address is the fact that there aren’t many extracurricular options at all—and FUSE fills that void for him on a personal level. He also said honor courses have been cut from the curriculum at the high school.

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Students wore their shirts during the school day prior to the demonstration, which was held at 2:30 p.m. The participants said they got a big reaction in the classrooms.

“We were pulled out of our classes by security and we met with the principal,” said Tatiana Moore, 17, a junior. “We were questioned on what our shirts meant and what we wanted changed. We took notes to give to the school board.”

Moore felt empowered to join her fellow students in the demonstration.

“To me, this is the way I express changes that need to be made,” Moore said. “This is our voice as one.”

Passersby honked horns in support of the students while others joined the rally as it was in process, grabbing T-shirts and signs to join the line. The students chanted, “We want fair education now,” throughout the peaceful gathering.

Makelle Terry, 17, a junior, said he's been involved with FUSE since day one. Through the local nonprofit, Terry has been able to visit local colleges, including the University of Pittsburgh, to start planning for his own educational future.

"It's opened me up to different things," Terry said. "This is a movement—something needs to happen so we can get a better education."

Chris Carnevali, a co-founder of FUSE and a Wilkinsburg High School teacher, said she was proud of the students.

“They are the impetus for their own educational rights and I couldn’t be more proud,” Carnevali said.

Some of the next steps she’d like to see include more structured school environment as far as discipline and safety and incentives.

“Spirit days, prom and dances—we don’t have any and those are the normal things high schools across the land experience,” she said.

Michelle Passerello, Carnevali’s partner, said she was happy to see that each child involved with FUSE brought a friend.

“I think it’s a great turnout considering less than 200 students go to this school,” Passerello said.


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