Newark Students Protest School Conditions: Political Sabotage Against Booker?

Newark High School Students Walk Out In Protest Of Filthy, Unsafe School Environment


They say there are rats, mice, cockroaches, spiders, guns and fights in the hallways.

That’s why students say they walked out of a Newark high school today, to protest what they called a filthy school environment that’s also not safe. They also called for the return of the school’s former principal.

During the afternoon protest, students walked out of Barringer High School in staggered waves of 10 or 20. Some students said security guards blocked doors to prevent anyone from going outside.

A large crowd came outside when the fire alarm sounded, but soon went back in.

The demonstration came two weeks after authorities said a 15-year-old student was sexually assaulted inside a classroom at the Parker Street school. A 17-year-old student was arrested in connection with the Sept. 22 incident, police said.

Students got the word out about the protest on Facebook and said they’ve had enough of feeling unsafe and learning in an unsanitary school.

"It’s like a jungle," said Ashley Martinez, a 17-year-old senior at the high school. "The school’s out of control and I don’t feel safe."

Valerie Merritt, a spokeswoman for Newark schools, said the district has encountered insect and rodent problems over the years, but the system’s facilities team regularly exterminates and conducts daily and weekly cleanings.

On several Facebook pages about the protest — one had more than 300 members who said they would attend the event — students said they need to see a dramatic change.

Tyree Thomas, also a 17-year-old senior, said he created a Facebook page about the protest because he feels like Barringer lacks structure. Thomas said he did not have a class schedule until the third week of school.

Merritt said some of Barringer’s students did not have their class schedules at the start of the school year, however the district worked with the school to ensure each student had a schedule and the "matter has been rectified."

The high school, with grades 10-12, has about 1,300 students.

Thomas also said he wants the district to hire back the school’s former principal, Jose Aviles, who was transferred to another school. Aviles, who was principal at Barringer for two years, was vice principal at a city elementary school until he resigned shortly after the school year began to go to a local charter school.

The current principal is on medical leave, said Merritt.

Aviles said he was flattered by the call for his return. "I miss them," he said of the students.

"If somehow, someway, I could come back, I would," he said.

He also said students had the right to protest. But he said the protest should not have been during school hours.

"We’ve endured this from September 2 until now," said Thomas. "We’ve waited too long and we’re sick of the violence."




View Larger Map


Sources: NJ.com, CBS News, Facebook, Youtube, Google Maps