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Syracuse City School Students Call for Increased Teacher Diversity, New Drinking Fountains

Members of the Syracuse Youth Advisory Council have spent the past few months researching issues and concerns facing their peers, and today, they made their final presentations to common councilors.  Students in grades 9 to 12 apply for the 11 spots, and have the chance to try and influence change.  One group focused on the lack of diversity among the school district’s teachers and other leaders.  ITC student Donovan Collins doesn’t see many teachers who look like him or can relate to him.

Credit Scott Willis / WAER News
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WAER News
ITC student Donovan Collins says the diverse SCSD student body should have diverse teachers who can relate to them.

"In the 12 years I've been an SCSD student, I've had only one African American teacher.   I strongly believe that seeing more teachers of color would make more students of color want a career in teaching.  If we had more teachers of color, it would inspire more students, especially those who have felt left out."

The group found through a small survey that just under half of students are satisfied with the diversity of teachers.  Their survey also found 11 percent of students are considering teaching as a career.  But that number jumps to about half if there are incentives like reduced cost housing.  The group did find that the district's head of recruitment has increased collaboration with a number of programs in recent years to boost the number of minority teachers.  The students hope to work with the common council and board of education to create a committee to explore more solutions.

Another group chose upgrading school drinking fountains with bottle fillers as their topic.  Nottingham sophomore Eli Mager says most fountains are very old, don’t work well, or are unsafe to use.

Credit Scott Willis / WAER News
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WAER News
Nottingham Sophomore Eli Mager looks to his group as he begins his presentation. They're calling for new, safer, efficient drinking fountains with bottle fillers.

"The overwhelming majority of students don't trust the water fountains enough to drink from them.  they go straight for the vending machines.  And, yes, that means they're getting cleean water.  But that's for the kids who actually get water.  Most get soda.  This poses another health risk, along with the plastic waste that it produces.  This is something that new, clean water fountains would fix."

He says even newly renovated schools aren’t getting the fountains with the water bottle fillers commonly seen at suburban and private schools.  A survey found 92 percent of students would use a new water fountain, and that nearly as many carry a reusable water bottle.  They're asking for a minimum of three water bottle filler stations at every school awaiting renovation.  The group says the upgraded fountains don't cost that much more and will help students stay hydrated and healthier.  

Scott Willis covers politics, local government, transportation, and arts and culture for WAER. He came to Syracuse from Detroit in 2001, where he began his career in radio as an intern and freelance reporter. Scott is honored and privileged to bring the day’s news and in-depth feature reporting to WAER’s dedicated and generous listeners. You can find him on twitter @swillisWAER and email him at srwillis@syr.edu.