Students Use Their Power to Speak Up

Recently, our local paper, the San Mateo Daily Journal, wrote an article about Design Tech Charter High School maybe wanting to use the San Mateo Adult School campus.

You can read the article about D-Tech and the SMAS Campus here.


San Mateo Adult School students spoke up in response.

They said, "No.  We do not want the Design Tech Charter High School to use our campus.  We need this campus.  We need our school.  D-Tech needs its own campus."

Three ESL students wrote letters to the Editor of the San Mateo Adult School.  Their letters were published.  You can read one of the letters here.

The San Mateo Daily Journal listened.

Jon Mays, the Editor-in-Chief wrote an editorial.  He said he agreed with the students.  D-Tech should not use the San Mateo Adult School campus.   He wrote, "Students there can take a variety of classes, but the primary ones are focused on learning English as a second language and those that lead to a GED. The school functions as an educational center, but is also a de facto community center as well. It is a well-functioning and critical thread in the fabric that makes up the city of San Mateo. "  You can read his editorial here.

ESL Student Advocate
Marina Kravtsova

ESL Student Advocate Marina Kravtsova wrote a letter to the San Mateo Daily Journal, also.  They published her piece as an "Op-Ed."  Op-Ed means Opinion-Editorial.   Marina wrote, "Parents’ education strongly affects children’s ability to adapt to their new country and succeed in their school life. That goes without saying: If we care about the future, the San Mateo Adult School must exist."

You can read Marina's full piece here.

Teacher Lisa with her morning ESL class

The San Mateo Daily Journal sent a reporter, Angela Schwartz, to find out more information from the students and staff.  She wrote an article about the many challenges the Adult School faces.

The challenges include only the D-Tech situation but uncertainty about money.  We do not know the future of our funding.  We need good, stable funding so we can build good, stable programs.

She reported that our K12 District, the San Mateo Union High School District is speaking up for our school.

"The district is currently finishing up a letter to Gov. Jerry Brown regarding needed state support of adult school education and its vital place in the San Mateo community."
 
“We are hoping that a letter from the San Mateo Union High School District — a district with a very successful and long-standing adult school program — will help to document the needed state support for adult schools,” Sheri Costa-Batis, communications manager for the district, said in an email.

You can read the article here.

SMAS ESL Morning
Student Council President
Daniel & Teacher Katherine

Many people are speaking up for the San Mateo Adult School, K12 Adult Schools, and Adult Education.

The most important voices are the voices of the students.  Adult Learners - current students and former students - are the best speakers about the value of Adult Schools and Adult Education.  More than anyone else, students and former students understand the value of Adult Education.

Does Adult Education matter to you?  Has the San Mateo Adult School or another Adult School helped you?  Now is the time to join others and speak up.  Get the message out.

You can do like these SMASrs did and write a letter to your local paper.  You can send a letter or email to Governor Brown.  You can call or visit or write your local mayor, city council, Chamber of Commerce, School Board, Assembly Member or State Senator.  Here is information about speaking up.  If you need help, ask a teacher.

You can speak by wearing Red for Adult Ed on Tuesdays. When someone asks about your red t-shirt, you can tell them about your school and Adult Education.  You can tell them we need stable funding for K12 Adult Schools

Your voice is powerful.  Your voice matters.