Four days into the Newton Teachers Association (NTA) strike, students grapple with widespread disruptions in school life due to the union’s ongoing civil disobedience and the subsequent shutdown of school and extracurricular activities.
Term two grades, which were supposed to be submitted by 9 a.m. this morning, will not be finalized until the strike is over. Many seniors who are applying to colleges are required to submit second-term grades to be considered for admission, which they are now unable to do.
“Some schools have reached out to me asking me to submit them and I really have no control over that right now, which is stressful,” said senior Danielle Morrill.
When school was canceled on Friday, many students were unable to make up assignments and tests that affect their term two grades, according to senior ZZ Sayeed. “I think a lot of kids are stressed, especially with reassessments, because this is the final grade that’s going to colleges,” she said. “Since teachers are striking, they’re not grading, checking Schoology or going through to put in grades.”
Students who typically receive services such as physical and occupational therapy and speech services, as well as life skills education through the Special Education department are unable to use these resources for the duration of the strike, according to Special Education teacher Caroline Thompson.
North’s sports teams have also had to cancel or reschedule practices, games, and competitions, according to Athletic Director Mike Jackson. “We’re just at a standstill right now. We are trying to move games as much as we can,” he said. “I’m just trying to make sure we don’t forfeit any games and it doesn’t impact our student-athletes any more than it already has.”
According to Morrill, a captain of the girls’ ice hockey team, not being able to have practices and games with coaches will impact their ability to play as a team. “We were starting to build up strength and we were getting wins and our team chemistry was getting good before,” she said. “Not being on the ice with coaches will get in the way of how we were developing before the strike started.”
Some teams have organized practices outside of school, run by captains. The girls’ basketball team has spent their team funds to rent space at the YMCA to hold practices, according to junior Devon Burke, a captain.
Fine and performing arts performances and rehearsals have been delayed. Lost and Found, a cabaret-style show highlighting stories of students of color performed its opening night Thursday, Jan. 18. Both the Friday, Jan. 19, and Saturday, Jan. 20 performances have been delayed, according to Sayeed, a director. “It was really hard for me to see everyone’s hard work and my hard work have to be put on pause, but again it wouldn’t have been possible without the teachers, so they deserve the recognition.”
