The Jungle Editorial No. 1

Saving the Students
by Vicki Santana



It was about 6:40 on a Monday morning and Teresa and Patty were sitting on the bus, still trying to wake up before they reached school. Both were discussing why they had to take the bus so early. "Why does school start at 7:30 a.m.? Maybe if it started later, we wouldn't be so tired," Patty said.

"Maybe if there was a school closer to us we wouldn't be so tired!" replied Teresa, with attitude. For most students living north of Highway 101, getting up at 5:30 a.m. to go to school on the opposite side of town is extremely tiring. A new school where the old Sunnyvale High School stood (Duane and Fairoaks) would be great for these students.

Fremont High School is too far away for many students. About 63% of its students live on the north end of town. There also are students who live near the Sunnyvale-Santa Clara border and have to go to Fremont, which is far from that border. Some students' parents drop them off at school, and other students drive. However, most students take the bus. "Sometimes I sit on the bus for half an hour because I live in Lakewood," said one junior, who added that, by the end of the day, she was completely burned out.

Returning home on the bus is another problem. Students with fourth block do not leave until 3:25 p.m. Some do not arrive home until 4:30 p.m. and find there is not enough time for them to do activities of their choice. Other students do volunteer work, extra-curricular activities and sports. "Every year I do soccer and have to take the 5:30 p.m. bus home, and it kills lots of time to do homework," said another junior. Life becomes difficult for these students who must travel aout eight miles to go home. It is a waste of their valuable time.

Another school should be re-opened where Sunnyvale High was located, because it would benefit students, teachers and bus drivers. If it was opened, there would be more jobs available to secretaries also. Class size would be smaller and teachers would be better able to work with individual students and attend to their needs. The learning process would improve. Bus drivers also would benefit and the school would not have to pay for bus passes of students who live far away. That money could go to buy supplies and faster computers.

Students are the future, and the future should be saved before students decide they cannot succeed because school is too hard. School is not hard, but the distance and the energy wasted traveling that distance is a problem. This matter should be brought up at a school board meeting so something can be done about it.