"The big news at Oakland School for the Arts is that middle schoolers are now being forced to switch arts, and they won't be able to choose the art they want to switch to." --Ruby deetz & Kaliyah Smith 6th grade
The following article is a special May investigation by the OSA Shallot staff, aiming to bring you the very best of the campus' fake news.
The big news at Oakland School for the Arts is that middle schoolers are now being forced to switch arts, and they won't be able to choose the art they want to switch to. Middle school students received this news today via email, and have been extremely upset ever since, with more absences than usual and some kids even dropping out. The new arts will be set next year, and middle schoolers will no longer be able to change their art until highschool, when the school will then select a new art for them.
Many students who attend OSA are very upset about this decision made by the administration, like 6th grade student Zara Quiter (any pronouns). “It’s just so annoying that we have to change arts,” Quiter says, “I mean, we came to this school to do our art that we want to be in and now they're making us change it.” Quiter is also not happy about the art they have been selected to be in Visual Arts. They said that they aren't the best visual artist. “It’s gonna be horrible and I’m super nervous for next year because I’m gonna fail that class because I literally cannot draw.”
Quiter is also concerned about the lack of student attendance there will be once the change is made at the beginning of next year. “I think people will be less happy to be here because most people who are here want to be in the art that they are in, and now that they don’t like their art I feel like it’s gonna have a big drop in attendance and it won't be good for anyone.” They said that they also have a concern for their grades. “I imagine that I will probably fail my classes because I know that they do, like, master copies in visual arts and I won't be able to do that.”
Students have already been lacking attendance since the infamous email was sent, and have been skipping class more than usual. Last week the fire alarm went off because about 3-4 students were vaping in the stalls in protest, and were suspended when caught.
Zanthe Jones-Gerachis (she/her), a 7th grader, has also expressed her disappointment in this decision. “It’s a very big deal. I definitely do not support the decision as a student and it hurts me that we even have to go through the change,” says Jones-Gerachis. She too, like many students at the school, is not satisfied with her art selection.
“I’m going to be in dance. I would like to say I'm a good dancer but I don’t wanna have to wear ballet shoes because they hurt. I just don’t think this is a very educated decision.”
Jones-Gerachis has also expressed concern for her grades. “My grades are already really bad but I think it’s gonna make my grades go down to an F. I just don’t think it’s gonna be good.”
After the fire alarm incident, staff at OSA have been on high alert, patrolling bathrooms and hallways more than usual, causing more and more students to sneak off campus to get away.
8th grader Calliope Dean (she/her) is also quite upset about this ordeal, “I feel like people are allowed to switch their art but when they switch them too much it just kind of messes with your head and it’s really confusing,” she says. “The school decided my new art would be vocal. They think that it’s good for me to ‘branch out’.”
She says that she thinks this year will be the last that students are truly happy with their art. “I feel like the school is changing things for the worst.” She is also worried about there being too much contrast. “I feel like having to constantly switch between arts is just too much stress and too much difference so I feel like my grades and everything will start to slip.”
With staff being more strict, students have even dropped out and gone to Claremont, in hopes to have better luck ignoring the fact we are at the end of the school year. Overwhelmed with the loss of many students, there are rumors that OSA’s administration is considering changing everyone's art back to normal, but most likely won't go through with it.
Mike Oz (He/Him) our Executive Director says he doesn't understand why the students are upset, “ I think this will really benefit the school by giving students more variety in what they can do and unlock talents they didn’t know they had.” Oz says the reason he won’t let students choose their own art is because he wants to bring them out of their comfort zone and help them explore all forms of art.
Mila Boyden, (she/her) a 7th grader, will be transferred to the vocal department next year. “I feel as if students are being put into arts that feel wrong to them, like I know that I definitely don’t feel like a vocalist. And so I feel like it’s kind of defeating the purpose of OSA. I think it’s defeating the point of the school. And I think it shouldn't have happened,” says Boyden. She worries about the state of the school when everyone returns after summer break. “I think it’s chaotic and I’m not sure the school is very well prepared for this change.”
The big news at Oakland School for the Arts is that middle schoolers are now being forced to switch arts, and they won't be able to choose the art they want to switch to. Middle school students received this news today via email, and have been extremely upset ever since, with more absences than usual and some kids even dropping out. The new arts will be set next year, and middle schoolers will no longer be able to change their art until highschool, when the school will then select a new art for them.
Many students who attend OSA are very upset about this decision made by the administration, like 6th grade student Zara Quiter (any pronouns). “It’s just so annoying that we have to change arts,” Quiter says, “I mean, we came to this school to do our art that we want to be in and now they're making us change it.” Quiter is also not happy about the art they have been selected to be in Visual Arts. They said that they aren't the best visual artist. “It’s gonna be horrible and I’m super nervous for next year because I’m gonna fail that class because I literally cannot draw.”
Quiter is also concerned about the lack of student attendance there will be once the change is made at the beginning of next year. “I think people will be less happy to be here because most people who are here want to be in the art that they are in, and now that they don’t like their art I feel like it’s gonna have a big drop in attendance and it won't be good for anyone.” They said that they also have a concern for their grades. “I imagine that I will probably fail my classes because I know that they do, like, master copies in visual arts and I won't be able to do that.”
Students have already been lacking attendance since the infamous email was sent, and have been skipping class more than usual. Last week the fire alarm went off because about 3-4 students were vaping in the stalls in protest, and were suspended when caught.
Zanthe Jones-Gerachis (she/her), a 7th grader, has also expressed her disappointment in this decision. “It’s a very big deal. I definitely do not support the decision as a student and it hurts me that we even have to go through the change,” says Jones-Gerachis. She too, like many students at the school, is not satisfied with her art selection.
“I’m going to be in dance. I would like to say I'm a good dancer but I don’t wanna have to wear ballet shoes because they hurt. I just don’t think this is a very educated decision.”
Jones-Gerachis has also expressed concern for her grades. “My grades are already really bad but I think it’s gonna make my grades go down to an F. I just don’t think it’s gonna be good.”
After the fire alarm incident, staff at OSA have been on high alert, patrolling bathrooms and hallways more than usual, causing more and more students to sneak off campus to get away.
8th grader Calliope Dean (she/her) is also quite upset about this ordeal, “I feel like people are allowed to switch their art but when they switch them too much it just kind of messes with your head and it’s really confusing,” she says. “The school decided my new art would be vocal. They think that it’s good for me to ‘branch out’.”
She says that she thinks this year will be the last that students are truly happy with their art. “I feel like the school is changing things for the worst.” She is also worried about there being too much contrast. “I feel like having to constantly switch between arts is just too much stress and too much difference so I feel like my grades and everything will start to slip.”
With staff being more strict, students have even dropped out and gone to Claremont, in hopes to have better luck ignoring the fact we are at the end of the school year. Overwhelmed with the loss of many students, there are rumors that OSA’s administration is considering changing everyone's art back to normal, but most likely won't go through with it.
Mike Oz (He/Him) our Executive Director says he doesn't understand why the students are upset, “ I think this will really benefit the school by giving students more variety in what they can do and unlock talents they didn’t know they had.” Oz says the reason he won’t let students choose their own art is because he wants to bring them out of their comfort zone and help them explore all forms of art.
Mila Boyden, (she/her) a 7th grader, will be transferred to the vocal department next year. “I feel as if students are being put into arts that feel wrong to them, like I know that I definitely don’t feel like a vocalist. And so I feel like it’s kind of defeating the purpose of OSA. I think it’s defeating the point of the school. And I think it shouldn't have happened,” says Boyden. She worries about the state of the school when everyone returns after summer break. “I think it’s chaotic and I’m not sure the school is very well prepared for this change.”
