To improve representation and safety, Fresno and Clovis schools need student councils | Opinion
I have the opportunity to be a student at Edison High School and the Center for Advanced Research and Technology, better known as CART. Edison is located in southwest Fresno, in the center of what many in and out of this region have deemed the “hood.” CART, just along the fault line where Fresno becomes Clovis, is under both districts. My experiences within both districts have helped me see two sides of what restorative practice in learning is believed to be.
Despite long-standing stereotypes perpetuated by people on either side, the reality is that there exist the same issues for students, namely for students of color.
During my years attending Edison, I have learned that it is viewed as a prospect for some inevitable, positive change to “better” the city. That change is specifically to serve the low-income, primarily minority communities that occupy where resources continue to be denied. While Edison has always been a source of pride, prevalent racism is observed here and in schools across Fresno. It was imperative for me to realize that FUSD is not beyond racism in the classroom or in a curriculum that does not serve me as a student of color.
Additionally, a glimpse into Clovis Unified through CART is exactly what I needed to become well aware of what was happening in local education systems. Having grown up in Fresno, I was rooted in my preconceived notions that Clovis was “only for white students” and that blatant racism was a daily occurrence. While I do not deny myself or other Fresno students of this mindset entirely, my experiences in the past two years at CART have pulled back the curtain on why blissful ignorance in both districts is so easily accepted.
In Fresno Unified, I am grateful for a campus where I can go every day to find staff and students who represent me. Strong rapport creates a sense of family, of home. Despite many of the students’ struggles that go unseen, this is the unique Edison experience. But like every home, there is conflict.
Truth be told, racist incidents are seemingly pushed aside because people in positions of power at our schools are major contributors to said incidents. For example, in June 2022, Brian Vollhardt, a former principal of Wolters Elementary School, forcefully shoved a 10-year-old Black student on school grounds.
At CART, while I may not have seen outright assaults of students, the impacts may just as well be an attack on the safety of students. I am grateful for the opportunities and resources that CART provides, but there are issues to address. In the past, my classmates and I have witnessed educators, people in positions of power, using and opening a space for students to say racial slurs. From my understanding, this was an attempt to teach a lesson in a “real-world application.” But all we took was how adults can, intended or not, inflict pain on their students. These are just two examples of many from either district and they are extremely telling of what is, or better yet, who is being prioritized in our schools. I know I too have fallen short of correcting this behavior for fear of being ostracized by authority figures.
The need to create a pathway for students, especially students of color, to express our concerns is urgent, but no less necessary. I envision a funded advisory council composed of students of color to whom those with concerns can turn. This would hold significant weight in the inner workings of a school and legitimize action taken when a student’s safety and comfort are infringed upon. Both campuses need student voices, but for two different reasons. An advisory council at Edison would make BIPOC students feel heard and wanted. An advisory council at CART would make students feel safe.
Alana De La Cerda is a senior in Fresno Unified School District, attending both Edison High and CART. She is also a youth leader in Californians for Justice.
