21
While I love seeing my journalism
friends and family at the
conventions, I can no longer take
a free flight and stay in a free hotel
room when none of my students
can do so. A mom chaperone on
a recent trip casually said that she
had cashed in the company stock
options in her retirement fund so
she and her daughter could go.
If I require my editors to stay after
school and work each day on
the publications, then only the
students of means will be editors.
If I require students to stay after to
take photos, then most of them will
be walking home after the game. I
do not want them worrying about
losing the camera and equipment
they are carrying, so I make sure
they can give it to an adult who is
there.
Transportation is a huge issue for
us, and one that never goes away.
The students either catch the bus
home,or they walk, or wait for a ride
from someone driving THE car to
pick them up. One of my students
takes a bus two hours a day to
his after-school job, works until
midnight, then rides the bus two
hours home.
Saturdays and Sundays are literally
out of the question. Unless we are
able to get a journalism bus or
car to pick everyone up, getting
everyone here and everyone home
is pretty impossible. Again, the
three or four with cars and means
will show up, but others won’t be
able to.
We shall accomplish what we can
in journalism in one class period a
day. That is it. This decisions means
that our publications will achieve
a certain level, and that is that.
We simply do not have the time it
takes to stay after school for hours.
Time after school for many of the
kids in my program are hours for
things far more important than
journalism. Yes, more important
than even journalism! Some years, I
have journalism students who want
to, and can, stay after to work on
the publications. Other years, there
aren’t any who can. I am perfectly
fine with that.
Don’t get me wrong, there is
nothing wrong with my kids.
My students are exercising
their constitutional right to
free speech, one of the most
valuable possessions they have.
Our expression just might not
be as fluid, lengthy or poetic as
others. Our expressions will not
garner the hardware and sparkle
like others do. There is incredible
value in teaching them that their
voics are important and should be
heard. There is incredible value in
recognizing that our efforts are just
as good as others.
In order to be a fierce advocate
for my students, I have to be
completely honest that the issue
lies with me. I am the one who
wants to high-five and glory in the
success of our program. My need
to stand tall and walk around the
convention with a long trail of
ribbons under my nametag should
not get in the way of what they are
able to do. I have to continue to
change.
Each fall, the entire
journalism staff takes a
bus ride to the University
of Washington campus for
Journalism Day, or J Day,
sponsored by the
Washington Journalism
Education Association.
Auburn High School
students from the Trojan
Journalism 2015 staff sit in
the auditorium for the
keynote address.
Photo by Thomas Kaup