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December 14, 2011
ERIC GANT, McClymonds High
They took a survey on how fights and bullying affect learning. They wore stickers that read “Watch my back.” And they painted “48%” on their faces to remind themselves that only 48 percent of African Americans and Latinos graduate high school in Oakland.
These were some of the “actions” that 14 students took after a two-day Real Hard retreat sponsored by Oakland Kids First on Nov. 12 and 13.
“Students recognize that their community is going downhill and want immediate change and improvement, “ said Angelique Villasana, a junior at McClymonds High School. “They’re willing to take action.”
The activities grew out of the retreat for students from rival high schools, Oakland Technical and McClymonds. Participants focused on the question: What stops a high school student from learning in Oakland? Peers, teachers or the environment?
Through classroom exercises, the goal was to write and enforce a code of conduct that would improve interaction between students and teachers and stop students from dropping out. Five students from McClymonds and nine from rival Oakland Technical High School attended the retreat.
Real Hard is an after-school leadership training program that meets twice a week for two hours each session. Participating students from McClymonds and Oakland Tech receive a stipend of $350 a semester.
It was not the first time that the students tackled issues like bullying, teachers’ indifference and violence. However, this time students concentrated on relationships between teacher and student as well as among students.
Students also gathered more information than before. The survey at Oakland Tech, for instance, revealed that 54 percent of students feel that fights and bullying in school — whether they are personally involved in them or not — affect their learning and academic success.
“The students really enjoyed our week of action,” said Doris Edwards, a senior at Oakland Tech and Real Hard participant.
Edwards said the face painting action brought awareness to the low graduation rate in Oakland public high schools and the need for change.
“We were asking students to join those of us who plan to graduate on time,” she said.
At McClymonds, students proudly paraded their “We Got Your Back” stickers in psychedelic green, yellow and orange.
“It was a day of creating a culture of community,” said Stephen Vance, a senior at Mack and president of All City Council, Oakland citywide high schools’ student government.
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