HOUSTON – Students from several Houston ISD schools affected by the district’s New Education System spoke up about it, off their campuses.
Instead of addressing the school board, they held a panel discussion at the Third Ward Multi-Service Center where they could speak freely, without time limits.
The students brought their voices there because they said they don’t feel heard at HISD board meetings. Tonight they sounded off about what they say is a school system they say feels more like prison.
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“The rules that are set for students are ridiculous,” the moderator said.
HISD’s new education system or NES touts free trips for students to experience new places and cultures, and extra resources and support to dramatically improve academic performance. Superintendent Mike Miles says it’s supposed to help students at struggling schools thrive, but students say it’s doing just the opposite.
“When you’re walking the hallways administrators are yelling at you ‘Go to class, go to class, headphones out put your phones away,’” said Worthing HS student, Drapon Allen.
Allen says he feels like he’s behind bars while at school.
“There’s blue tape in the middle of the hallway and you’re being forced to walk on the right side of the hallway. Administrators will shove you,” he added.
If students need to relieve themselves, Allen says they have to carry a large traffic cone to the restroom.
“It can be red, or blue, depending on what side of the campus you’re on,” he said.
Maria Mendez says things got so bad, she considered suicide and had to transfer out of worthing.
“School was my safe space,” Mendez said. “I know I’m strong mentally but at that school I could not take the environment anymore I was feeling so low that honestly I’m missing three to four days a week.”
Mendez and Allen aren’t alone. A panel of students from multiple high school -- some not NES-modeled--, spoke against the system.
“And I would agree and use the word dehumanizing to describe these policies,” said Hira Malik who attends Carnegie Vanguard.
The discussion comes on the heels of up to 40 more HISD schools considered to be lagging in performance set to transfer to the controversial NES system in the 2024-2025 school year.