I was one of the many students who attended the WW-P Community Forum. I feel that I represent my colleagues when I say, “the forum did not listen to students at all.” Since this event was moderated by Dan Meyers, who was using it for his Ph.D. thesis, the input of participants under 18 could not be used. This was a major disappointment to the dozens of students who actually came to participate, especially after the district pumped the event as a place for “students, parents, and staff” to share their input on where the district is heading.
Personally, I felt that the district betrayed its very own students. I understand that it is getting a full analysis on the community’s input for free, but aren’t the students a major factor to a school district? Furthermore, Meyers could have easily asked students to get their parents to consent to the forums ahead of time. Instead, he decided to share the bad news at the very last minute. The whole event just seemed like a major hoax to people under 18. It was a lost opportunity for the district because the students (aside from the staff) are the core to these changes in the upcoming year. We will be the lab rats to these proposed reforms and therefore, we should have a say.
I am not putting blame on any party in this matter but instead, I am voicing my frustration. Very rarely do students come out and show that they care about something and I felt that we wasted a special moment. I hope that there will be another opportunity for the bright youth of West Windsor-Plainsboro to speak out and I hope no students were too discouraged to avoid future events.
Jesse Yu
Class of 2012, High School South
Editor’s note: Jesse Yu and Jeffrey Yu are twin brothers.
