BCHS group takes on transportation issues
By Myeasha Perry, Jonathon Ramseur and Sabrina Thurmond The Diagnostic
With so much attention on the 440 minutes spent in school each day, many students feel their voices go unheard about the time spent traveling to and from school.
Even though many drive to school or their parents or guardians take them, students still face the reality of living in the city. Whether one rides the bus or walks, they encounter many different things getting to and from Benjamin Carson High School and other Detroit high schools.
“Transportation can affect a student’s mood and performance in school,” said Curtis Valasek, BCHS health careers and forensic science teacher. Because of this connection, many people have begun to try to do something about the issue.
The Amnesty International Club at BCHS is taking a stand on student safety and making it their first campaign, called the #Walksafe Movement. Among other things, they plan to pass out safety tip flyers and discuss their importance during students’ first hour advisory courses. Amnesty adviser and BCHS teacher Sadie Murphy said she has high hopes for this effort’s ability to get people talking.
“Hopefully Amnesty will get people talking about the issue more, and will lay some groundwork for the city to take collective action,” she said. Many students feel like it is a subject that gets swept under the rug and they are excited to see someone doing something about it.
Though there are many factors related to transportation, safety and timeliness are one of the main worries for students. Though an extreme case, BCHS junior Christopher Williams had a first-hand experience with how student transportation can affect one’s life.
“I was walking to the bus stop on my way to school and a car was parked there,” he said. “When I got to the stop, two guys got out of the car and robbed me at gunpoint and took all of my belongings.”
Though the process is slow, safety for student travel is becoming a hot topic of conversation, and now, action. There are many things students can do now to take safety measures into their own hands, and BCHS freshman Shaiquan Ayers has a few suggestions.
“Students should walk in groups, stick to the main streets, and always be aware of their surroundings,” said Ayers.
