For months, rumors about what could happen if the state decides to take over have been spreading among Holyoke students and staff. Many students fear they will get their freedom to express themselves taken away by being forced to wear uniforms, they fear longer school days, and they’re afraid more standardized testing. These are all very legitimate concerns.

On March 24, 2015 over fifty HHS students walked out of their classrooms after second period. Their stated reason was to protest the potential state takeover. The meeting to decide whether or not the state will take over was happening at the same time as the “walk-out.” With posters in hand, the students marched down to city hall to meet with Mayor Morse, who addressed the crowd with a megaphone.

While it’s understandable that the students of Holyoke are in panic over the possibility of their schools being taken over by the state, and although it would be very unfortunate to see many of our beloved Holyoke High School faculty members get their jobs ripped away from them, breaking school rules is not the answer.

The students that participated in the walk out saw it as an opportunity to show they have a voice, however all it seemed to do is make our school look worse!

I’m sure when the state caught wind of a massive student walk-out they only saw this as our educators being unable to control their students and added it to their list of reasons to take our school under their control.

Dr. Sergio Paez, Superintendent of the Holyoke Public Schools, believes that the walk-out had the opposite effect of what was intended. “Instead of making a point about [how much we] care, responsibility, and [our] concern about the current situation we are facing with receivership, it made us look like a district that is out of control and with no discipline and commitment towards academic success,” Dr. Paez told The Herald.

The only people that really seemed to be affected by this walk out are the same people whose jobs we are trying to save. It seemed some students don’t realize principals and teachers are fighting the same battle we are: the majority of teachers and administrators are just as worried about the state’s involvement in Holyoke as we are!

So the question is: with the HHS teachers on our side, why walk out on them?

The man in charge of Holyoke High School, Acting Principal Mr. Sullivan, was “very disappointed” with the student walk-out.

“I understand students want their voices to be heard, and I respect that,” Mr. Sullivan wants to assure the student body, “but I was disappointed because I, and all of our teachers, are here every day and committed to the students at Holyoke High School. Yet, no student came to talk to me about what receivership might mean, or what we could do as a school community to send a united message that we want our schools to say under our control.”

“I think we could have sent a very powerful message about how important our schools are to all of us,” he adds, “but unfortunately I think we missed that opportunity.”

Mr. Sullivan admits that he has to take some responsibility for not knowing how important this issue was to students and is currently working with some students and teachers to address the issue. On April 15, Mr. Sullivan has arranged for two separate assemblies addressing the entire student body that will hopefully give students a better understanding of what state receivership means and offer opportunities to have student voices be heard – but this time in a constructive way.

Again, there is absolutely nothing wrong with wanting to protest against the state takeover, however during school hours was not the best idea. Instead of showing defiance and proving the state right the students of Holyoke High need to show all of the good things our school has to offer!