Student activism is nothing new in American history. While it is hallmarked by the anti-Vietnam War protests of the 1960s, recent years have proved it is anything but extinct. While some events, like the Women’s March, are international affairs, others have popped up in our own Mountain Lakes.
Historically, the Mountain Lakes High School student body has not been known to actively challenge authority, whether that be teachers, the school administration, or the federal government. However, Mountain Lakes has rapidly changed this pattern over the last academic year. Read on for summaries of Mountain Lakes High School’s dives into activism!
Parkland Walkout
On February 14th, 2018, while most of America was busied with buying candy hearts and cards from Hallmark, Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School faced an unspeakable tragedy. Seventeen people (14 students and 3 staff members) were murdered, and seventeen other school community members were seriously wounded. The survivors started the “Walk for Our Lives” movement, and on March 14, 2018, high schools across the nation orchestrated a 17-minute walk-out and memorial for those killed in the massacre.
Mountain Lakes took part in this national movement. The Young Democrats Club organized the walk-out, as well as read out the biographies of each of the students who were lost in the attack. Our “walk-out” was approved by the school administration, but orchestrated by students. Superintendent Dr. Anne Mucci affirmed that the administration’s influence in the programming “was for safety – it wasn’t about stifling voices.” While some argued that administrative approval inherently altered the meaning of the movement, others felt it legitimized the movement and encouraged more people to participate, as there was no fear of disciplinary action. The walk-out was one of the first steps Mountain Lakes took to being more involved in the national community of organized student activism.
Wellness Week
Serious conversations have been sparked about mental health in recent years. However, shows like “13 Reasons Why” and recent school tragedies attributed to mental illness have made the issue ever-more discussed by the average teenager. This year, the LETS Club (Let’s Erase the Stigma) organized the first ever “Wellness Week” to curb stress in the week leading up to AP testing. Events included mindful coloring in the lobby, as well as therapy dogs coming into school on Monday, April 30th and Thursday, May 3rd. Club co-president Jessica Riley shares that “Mental health awareness is something that is not always prioritized, but definitely should be. The addition of ‘Wellness Week’ was a good reminder to students that sometimes it’s okay to take a break and focus on you.” In a similar fashion, LETS Club made it a priority to remind teachers they too deserve to relax. A “Faculty Friday” was organized to curb the stress of our school’s staff and administrators. The Media Center Gallery became home to a subtle ambiance, healthy snacks, and a massage therapist, all of which came together to help teachers decompress. This was compounded by students writing thank-you notes to their teachers in the lobby on National Teacher Appreciation Day on May 8th.
Wellness Week was not overt activism, but instead showed Mountain Lakes High School getting involved in a larger conversation. Many companies now encourage their employees to take mental health days, as wellness practices have been shown to help people maintain motivation and find greater satisfaction in their work. Mental health and mental health advocacy are booming conversations nationally, and we’re glad to see Mountain Lakes is taking a stand.
If you want to join this conversation, support the Twilight Walk on Sunday, June 3rd at 7:00 PM at Island Beach. The Twilight Walk is a “ non-partisan walk to support safer communities” and all proceeds will go to the Mental Health Association of Morris & Essex County & Sandy Hook Promise. To get involved with LETS Club for the 2018-2019 academic year, reach out to Julia Stanisci (‘19) or Janaki Mehta (‘21) to help plan next year’s Wellness Fair and make Wellness Week a Mountain Lakes tradition!
Wear Green for Ms. Green
Perhaps the most prolific example of the rise of student activism in MLHS is the response of the student body to the staffing changes at MLHS. In the short span of a month, the student body was made aware that Mr. McGrath and Ms. Green’s contracts were not renewed for the next academic year, many administrators have resigned or retired from the public school system, and Dr. Mucci will serve as the interim principal in MLHS. These events, which began on April 13th with the revelation that Ms. Green was not asked to return, sparked a passionate response from the student body, especially the senior class.
Organizing largely over social media, students throughout MLHS have attended Board of Education meetings to voice their opinions. At first, students gave speeches to show their support for Ms. Green and her attempt to appeal the non-renewal of her contract. As time marched on, the message of these speeches gradually shifted to the broader issues of transparency and lack of trust in the Board’s decision-making regarding personnel. The most notable Board of Education meeting in the past month took place on Monday, May 21st. The Board meeting featured a three-hour public comment section and an audience comprised of over 200 concerned students and parents.
In addition to speaking out at Board meetings, the student body also organized the “Wear Green for Ms. Green” movement on May 1st, the day by which seniors are expected to commit to a college. An estimated 400 students participated in this symbolic demonstration in support and appreciation of Ms. Green. The most recent student protest occurred on May 24th, when nearly a hundred students from MLHS held a ‘sit-in’ on a “Parent Brown-bag Lunch.” This demonstration lasted for the full two-hour duration of the “Brown-bag Lunch.” Nearly a month and a half after Ms. Green’s contract was not renewed, the Thursday student protest demonstrates the continuing resolve, confusion, and outrage, of the student body.
As in the rest of the country, social media has been a key tool used by student activists at MLHS to organize themselves and orchestrate demonstrations. Indeed, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and even Snapchat have been used prolifically by student activists to show their support for gun control, mental health awareness, and the beloved faculty members of MLHS who will not be returning next year. This age of quick communication has fostered an active and engaged student body, ready to share their opinions with the world, and at the very least, their chemistry class. Mountain Lakes is seeing a great resurgence in expressing compassion, outrage, and the need for change; we can’t wait to see how this new culture will change Mountain Lakes, and the world, for the better.
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