By Susan Bromley
Staff Writer
Ortonville- Some sixth-grade students got a lesson in protesting during social studies on Tuesday.
The 10- and 11-year-olds in Nadine Vantine’s class were distraught over a recent decision by the district to move three of their classmates to another room. So, they decided to protest.
At 3:15 p.m., the students marched down the hallway at Brandon Fletcher Intermediate School, waving posters in the air with a variety of slogans written on them in marker and crayon, including: ‘Don’t take our friends,? ‘We had no choice,? and ‘Students have a voice and a choice.?
They stopped in another classroom and made their way to the office, where they learned Principal Jeff Beane, to whom they were directing their protest, was not in the building. They then continued outside, where they marched on the sidewalk, passing buses and handing out fliers.
‘This was their idea,? said Vantine, who accompanied her students. ‘They were unable to concentrate in math and decided to protest (as part of social studies). They learned about boycotts in fifth grade… It’s a teachable moment.?
Madison McCrum, 11, said she and her fellow classmates were exercising their free speech.
‘It’s a good way to let people know it’s not a good decision,? she said. ‘We thought it was unfair because one (of our classmates) already moved. He (Beane) didn’t give us a choice as to whether they got to stay or not.?
‘We don’t have a choice,? said Danielle Vander Weel, 10. ‘Students should have a choice.?
Beane missed the protest, but later explained that the district decided the nine sixth-grade classes at BFIS, which averaged 30 students per room, needed to be reduced.
‘When we did student count projections, we didn’t anticipate this many move-ins,? he said. ‘Overall student count has been declining for the last three years.?
The decision was announced at the October 8 school board meeting by Superintendent Tom Miller, and Beane said letters were sent home to all sixth grade parents on Oct. 10. Beane spoke with the sixth-grade students during their lunch hours on Oct. 11-12. He said final decisions on which students were to be moved were made Oct. 21.
‘For the most part, when I met with the students, they were not showing this strong emotion,? Beane said. ‘I think they felt a really strong sense of community and didn’t want their students to go. I completely understand that. There was plenty of time to express concerns. At the same time, I understand that once it happens and becomes reality, that’s when strong emotions take over and people react.?
When asked what they learned Tuesday from their protest, responses of ‘standing up for what we believe in,? ‘speaking our minds,? and ‘freedom of speech? topped the list.
But Alyssa Evans, 11, summarized the experience by saying, ‘We wanted at least a chance to talk.?
‘It felt awesome to protest,? said Madison. ‘Like we were the people with Martin Luther King.?