The Hartford Courant published an article about a march to the capitol featuring Student Council President Kebra-Nagast Takahashi and Nayelis Pinto Negron! To read the entire article, click the link in the citation below.
Taka also shared some of the experience with us! He said “The march was organized by Connecticut for all to protest for more funds for the state. The proposed cuts are terrible. A few members from north and I went and joined the march which really was just about expressing our perspective of how it’s going to affect us as students. While there we talked around spreading awareness about our perspectives and basically just tried to get as much people to understand what we really are dealing with. We met and talked with different news stations.”
Continue reading below to read what Taka and Nayelis said when talking with the news stations!
“Parents and Students March to CT Capitol to Protest Education Cuts. Why over 300 Jobs Are at Risk.” Stephen Underwood. 2024. Hartford Courant. April 24, 2024. https://www.courant.com/2024/04/24/parents-and-students-march-to-ct-capitol-to-protest-education-cuts/.
“I don’t think how they understand that cutting mental health professionals really affects us as students,” said Bulkeley High School senior Kebra-Nagast Takahashi. “Next year without the therapists, counselors, and social workers it’s not going to be the same. We’ve developed that bond and level of trust within those professionals to keep us sane in the school. Yes, teachers help. But without that support, it’s not going to be the same.” Takahashi, who is student body president, said that while he will be graduating in June, he is advocating for his friends who will be attending Bulkeley next year. “Everybody is on edge,” Takahashi said. “Teachers are on edge, counselors are on edge, students are on edge. I wouldn’t be surprised if people have already started searching for new jobs. It’s that bad.”
Fellow Bulkeley student Nayelis Negron Pinto said that she has seen a noticeable shift in her teachers since the Board of Education passed the budget. “One of our teachers told us that he was nervous that he may not have a job next year,” Pinto said. “You can sense the shift in our teachers. Our teachers seem more stressed and nervous than usual. It’s really affected the entire mood of the school.”
We’re proud of our students for taking civic action to stand for their vision of a better community! Go Bulldogs!