NEW FENCE
Student response to the new fence at Sampedro has received mixed reviews. Bachillerato student offers her opinion of the decision and what comes next.
Article by Eva Jimenez, Photo by Eva Jimenez
Last term, school administrators agreed to allow student representation on the Consejo Escolar, amid concerns that the projects, such as a higher fence built during the summer, did not take student concerns into account. During the first evaluation, headmaster Javier Sancio led an open discussion with an ALE 1 class following student outcry for the new fence built around the perimeter of the school last summer. “On the one hand, I think it has been a nonsense to only put up the fence on one side, because vandals can still come in through other places. On the other hand, it might have some positive effects, making irresponsible people not able to jump over the fence anymore, as they could be seen.” – A. Jiménez, 2C. “It isn’t useful, because the people who jump the fence will keep on doing it on the other non-fenced side.” – E. Jiménez, 1A.
In a report put together by the ALE 1 class, the students had grave concerns about the message that the fence would send to the Tres Cantos community, as if, for example, someone living in Tres Cantos had to send his children to a high school, he would think twice if this one was the best choice, since maybe high fences suggest problematic students. “I think this has been a squandering of money. Why don’t they have a budget to repair other things, like windows or doors, or to put up clocks, but have it to raise the fences higher? Besides, it creates distrust. In the morning, the police is there, at the door, and together with the high fences, it looks like a prison. Also, it is ineffective, as not the whole perimeter has the high fence around.” – E. Torres, 4A. “I think the money could have been much better invested in other things, such as books for the library.” – Anonymous.
Furthermore, students told Javier that they want their voices to be heard when taking important decisions, as they are the main reason why high schools exist, and by assembling everybody’s ideas, the best agreements will definitely be reached. Then, they spoke aboutthe future: In high school, where the students are getting a rounded education to know how to deal with things outside of high school, they should start taking decisions now, as the consequences affecting won’t be as serious as the ones that might be suffered when they are older.