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Student member of Boston School Committee says he's fed up, resigns
By adamg on Thu, 03/04/2021 - 10:24pm
Khymani James, a Boston Latin Academy senior, tonight resigned his post as the student member of the School Committee.
In a series of tweets, James explained why he was resigning, without getting into specifics about new issues that he said he "simply couldn't condone:"
Besides the blatant disrespect + adultist rhetoric used towards me in public meetings, the overall structures within both of these bodies are ineffective + harmful to the progressive agenda of students.
I‘ve found out a lot of things recently that I simply cannot condone.
From lies to excuses to emotional manipulation, it’s all been deplorable and distasteful.
To ensure I do not reciprocate the disrespect nor continue to sacrifice my mental health, it is necessary for me to step away.
I know some of you may disagree with my decision as it can come off as abandoning the fight, but I am very much still in it!
It has been an honor to serve such brilliant students, and I will continue do so regardless of the spaces I am in.
Several members of the Student Advisory Committee also resigned today.
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Comments
I can certainly understand
I can certainly understand this gifted young man's frustration.
Just
think when THAT generation takes over. No wonder Republicans are shitting themselves--they will get nothing they want ever again. Really does make you think widespread injustice could become a bad memory some day
Except that these are not
Except that these are not Republicans who are on the school committee and are being so deplorable this time. #mirror
I can appreciate the need to leave a disfunctional organization
I can appreciate the need to leave a disfunctional organization, for the sake of one's mental and emotional health.
But Mr. James comments, and those of his fellow SAC members, imply that the issues with the School Committee were more than just inter-personal. If SC members, or the SC as a whole, are doing anything unethical or ill-advised, then the public has a right to know. If this is the case, then I hope that an explanation is offered to the public at some point relatively soon.
Hrm, seems you imply Mr.
Hrm, seems you imply Mr. James and their comrades are somehow obligated to expose people they had a gap/issue with or else they are complicit in hiding conditions that prompted their departure. That's a heavy lift to burden a high school student with, given the massive fucktastrophe that has been the last, long year.
Never mind the long term consequences of students going against an adult who might impact their college apps, academic reccs, community engagement, etc.
I applaud this young man for taking a principled stand, while not taking easy swipes at anyone/any situation. Very classy. I wish him the best.
Oooooh, you better believe it's coming.
Don't you worry about that.
Mr. James is a very smart man who does not show up without receipts.
Burn it to the ground, Mr. J.
We're all behind you.
And these children that you
And these children that you spit on
As they try to change their worlds
Are immune to your consultations
They're quite aware of what they're goin' through
Feelings are important.
Feelings are important.
"Adultist"
Would that be the opposite of "childish"?
No, because that's not how
No, because that's not how words work.
That comment is linguist.
I feel attacked.
Well...
...maybe you can be the next high school student rep to the school committee. Sounds like you're in the right age range.
No, but...
The use of it is suggestive of someone being ageist...
i’ll admit
seeing that word made me cringe too. new words are scary – they’re a reminder that the world goes on at its own speed no matter how hard you try to keep up.
that said, is it really that difficult to understand what the young man is saying?
No, it's very clear what he's saying.
And cringeworthy, yes, but not scary in the least.
[duplicate...
...deleted]
Welcome to Boston politics.
Welcome to Boston politics.
my decision ... can come off as abandoning the fight
Yes. And, it's why some adults think it's absurd to have children in this line of work.
So we should have an adult be the student rep?
Mr. James turns 18 in a few months.
Will his opinions matter then?
huh?
Adults quit jobs/board all the time...
See: Willie Gross
Yes, because leaving a
Yes, because leaving a position for your mental health is only something a CHILD would do!
/s.
"Some adults" are also egotistical, drunk on whatever amount of power they have, and selfish enough that they make everything they touch worse. Including people on school committees, corporations, governmental organizations... Imagine thinking that adults are somehow wiser or better than kids, just because they're older. More life experience counts for something, but certainly not better ideas, ethics, enthusiasm, etc.
I quit, but I'll continue to
I quit, but I'll continue to serve ??? That's a real Bostonian.
I'll quit and burn it down from the outside
Sometimes systems are so broken you can't fix them from within.
And also, keep in mind you are picking on a high school student who is spending his time trying to help repair his community on a volunteer basis, not an elected or paid official. so maybe STFU a little.
Being the rep to the school
Being the rep to the school board isn't a exactly a 'volunteer' job like shoveling snow from fire hydrants. It's a position sought after by ambitious high school kids, because it demonstrates faith that your teachers have in you to conduct yourself well in a professional environment.
He bit off more than he can chew if he thought it's a platform from which he can launch a progressive agenda. The decision makers on the school board will humor the student rep to occasionally speak their opinions, but only to a limit. The primary tasks for the student rep are to schmooz and answer any questions asked of them.
Just say it, man.
He should've known his place, kept quiet, and been thankful he was even there?
All of the student reps know
All of the student reps know everything in your last paragraph very well, as it's not exactly a secret. Mr. James didn't "bite off more than he can chew;" he's refusing to accept that situation as immutable. The "silly kids, don't you know this is just how things are?" attitude conveyed by your post is quite literally part of what Mr. James is talking about. You may be making your statement from a position of less knowledge, not more.
The "silly kids, don't you
I don't think so. The 'adultist rhetoric' part of the twitter rant is accusation of prejudice based on age. The adults telling James he should be quiet because of his age. That's entirely different from the decision-makers telling James he should be quiet because of his role.
A student rep to the school board commands no more voice than a parent attending the meeting. The only real difference is where they sit in the room.
Perhaps the School Committee
Perhaps the School Committee should consist entirely of students.
All should be treated with respect, always.
However, Mr. James, is still a teenager and while I have no reason to think he is not bright and enthusiastic, the non-teenagers in the room do have more life experience than he by virtue of their age. If they were being petty and treating him rudely, because they view his opinions having no gravitas, than that is unfortunate. If this was nothing more than Mr. James being offended at the adults in room for being older than he, well, let him chalk it up to gaining that life experience that he chides the others for having.
At least he has school pride
Khymani James
@KhymaniJames
·
Feb 16
Speaking from experience and having so many convos with other students, Boston Latin Academy is *not* a good school and should not be displayed as this “perfect, college prep school”.
The school is destroying students’ mental health and needs to be exposed for it’s wrongdoings.
Our public school system is an embarrassment
If you can send your kid(s) elsewhere, do it.
how does it get better when all families with means leave?
oh wait, it doesn't
How long should people wait?
How are families with means going to fix the Boston public schools?
When lots and lots of Boston Public School teachers and administrators send their children to schools other than their own, what does that tell you?
He did not stay to witness,
He did not stay to witness, he did not stay to serve those who he had asked to serve, he walked away.
This is nothing to applaud, he found the reality not to his liking and wants applause for quitting? I
Hopefully he has learned that he does not like politics and maybe will do pre law or med, but if he hasn't there a several Pac
backed progressive that will exploit him for " youth vote" in next two election cycle.
He was leaving soon anyway
Graduating and going to Columbia will do that.
I'm fairly certain this
I'm fairly certain this discussion would not be happening right now if he hadn't resigned...
More background
One-third of Boston Student Advisory Council resigns in “student mutiny,” alleges abuse of power.