8 |OPINIONS
Graphics by Madeline Michalowski ’22
Voice4Change offers students the chance to have a say in where educational funds are allotted. Students from more than 45 districts and 80 schools in Connecticut will submit proposals to the Connecticut Department of Education that will then be voted upon by students to determine what the $20,000 grants will be used for at each school. However, opinions differ as to whether or not wealthy districts like Westport need such funding.
Anna Diorio ’23
Ella Alpert ’22
Arts Editor ge has somehow always played a factor in judging a person’s ability to create change. The younger you are, the more people underestimate how much of a mark you can make. The Connecticut State Board of Education realizes the power of the youth voice. They understand that the ability to spark change isn’t dependent on age. Voice4Change is grounded in giving students the opportunity to voice their opinions, as well as develop essential skills
A
in the world. It’s this premise that I am supporting. Voice4Change is about recognizing the changemaking capabilities students have, offering a way for students to pursue them and equipping students with all of the tools they need to go on to become future leaders. As a current high school student, I was thrilled to see so many of my peers throw themselves into learning more about the initiative and crafting their proposals as soon as it was announced. Often with the social standards that naturally exist in high school, students feel hesitant to engage in such seemingly ambitious, “nerdy” activities. But watching the overwhelming amount of students promoting their ideas in front of Governor Ned Lamont, State Senator Will Haskell and Congressman Jim Himes—I was amazed at just how many of my peers want-
ed to make a difference in our community. It even inspired me to craft my own proposal. These values that Voice4Change strives to promote are something that should also be added at the local level. The Westport Board of Education meets frequently to decide whether more tax funds should be allotted to the music program, or to plan changes in the school-schedule for the upcoming month. These changes are made without giving students a voice and we just have to adapt. If I am the one who is attending school for nearly seven hours a day, devoting an additional number of hours at night to studying and doing homework year after year, I don’t feel it’s unreasonable to ask for a say in such a fundamental part of my day-to-day life, not to mention the foundation of my future. Voice4Change promotes such positive messages about the importance of youth civic engagement—messages that are worth spreading even further.
Broadcast Director verything about Staples exudes wealth. From the grand archway at the front entrance, the sheer size of the building, state of the art sports facilities and well landscaped
E
hallways, a library equipped with dozens of desktop computers, laptops, 3D printers and more. So why do we need $20,000? In addition to providing COVID-19 aid, the mission of Voice4Change is to provide students with input in the allocation of their school’s resources and to experience the process of creating and lobbying for a proposal. Although it is important for students to be involved in these decisions, this can be achieved without putting $20,000 on the line. Connecticut has one of the highest rates of education disparity in the country. Wealthy school districts like Westport thrive and are placed highly in nationally rankings of public schools. However, even more districts are left behind to fail. According to CSDE data from
the 2019-2020 school year, out districts, about 70% spend more than $18,000 per student. Voice4Change earnings will just barely account for one student’s expenditures. Districts with the lowest expenditures spend around $10,000 per student. I will not deny that all students despite their zip code have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, but we can’t ignore the immense privilege wealthy districts have to improve this experience. Under-resourced schools that were already struggling are put at an even greater disadvantage due to the pandemic. Instead of creating a program like Voice4Change in which everyone is given money, the state should determine which towns most desperately need aid. Wealthy towns like Westport are so fortunate to have resources to mitigate the effects of Covid. Yet issues like learning loss from online school or student burnthrowing money at the problem. Many of the issues that have arisen at Staples as a result of Covid speak to the larger culture of the school. Prioritizing mental health and minimizing stress can be accomplished without $20,000. $1.5 million of federal aid is not going to solve Connecticut’s education disparity, or all Covid related problems in schools. However, if divided between those who need it the most, this mon-
