As many Granada students must be aware, the vast majority of teachers on campus have been participating in an ongoing strike in order to get district attention and raise wages. In protest, teachers have shut their doors during lunch, making themselves unavailable at any period of the day during which they are not being paid. Although many students support this cause, it has had a significant impact on students, specifically regarding clubs, as we near the end of the third week of the lunch shut-in.
With all club advisors consisting of our own teachers, no clubs have access to their usual space, tools, or supervision to hold formal meetings. Unfortunately, with well over 50 clubs on campus, each with their own advisers, meeting days/times, and committed members, most GHS clubs are facing a temporary shut down.
Gabrielle Reggans (11) explained how the shut down has personally affected her, not only in regards to her club, but also academically.
“In our club, Girls For Sports, we have been trying to talk about volunteer events recently. For example, we were trying to give volunteer hours to people who helped us sell blankets for our fundraiser, but we haven’t been able to ask about it or inform people because we haven’t had any club meetings,” said Reggans.
Her club usually meets every other other Monday, meaning they’ve already been unable to hold two of their regularly scheduled meetings.
Reggans also commented on how it’s affected the other club she is a part of.
“I needed to go to at least 5 Green Team Club meetings for extra credit in AP Environmental Science, but the teacher strike reduced the amount of meetings they were able to have, so I haven’t been able to go to the amount of meetings necessary.”
Although she clarified that she does in fact support the strike because she wants teachers to be paid the amount they deserve, it has still created some academic and extracurricular issues that are difficult to ignore.
In addition, Anaya Menon (11), co-president of Women’s Empowerment Club (WEC) explained how the strike has directly impacted her club.
“Since the teachers are not opening their classrooms up for lunch, our club advisor can’t host our club meetings in her room. We usually meet alternating Tuesdays in Room 204 with Mrs. Avilla during lunch.”
However unfortunate, Menon understands the circumstance and is making the best of the situation, using the time off to plan future topics to cover and activities for her club members to enjoy when the strike concludes.
“There’s not really much we can do except be sympathetic for the cause the teachers are fighting for and temporarily pause our club meetings,” said Menon.
Although the Granada teacher strike has directly impacted students and clubs, most realize the importance of the cause and are trying to work around it or pause until further notice. Hopefully these issues will be noticed by the district so the appropriate changes can be made and clubs may return to their normal schedules. Still, It’s important to show support for our teachers and appreciation for all they do for us by standing by them in this protest.
