GHS students walk out to support teachers

Gallery • 5 Photos

Lexi Thomas

Students Alyssa LoPiccolo and Quinn Milner hold signs during the walk out.

GHS students walked out of class today to demonstrate support for their educators amidst the Gloucester Teachers Association’s ongoing contract negotiations with the School Committee. 

Attendance was high, with students walking to the front of the building holding signs saying “Support Our Teachers” and “We Love Our Teachers”. 

“I’ve been reading about the negotiations and I’ve seen the School Committee emails. I think the way they’re treating teachers is unfair and they deserve better,” junior Phoebe Hone said. 

The demonstration happened two days after the School Committee petitioned the state Department of Labor Relations to stop an alleged teacher strike.

“We are asking the Department of Labor Relations to step in and stop this illegal action immediately, and allow school to stay open and students to continue learning,” School Committee member Kathleen Clancy said in the committee’s statement. 

“Our teachers are not getting the compensation they deserve for the amount of effort and work they’re putting in,” junior Sofia Crivello said. “I have a lot of respect for the teachers that work in the school and other schools. I don’t believe it’s right that they’re not getting paid what they deserve.”

“I have so many special connections with my teachers,” senior Keith Kershaw said. “The longer they’re not on contract for, the worse it’s going to get.”

Following rumors on social media of the students’ possible walk out, GHS principal James Cook released an email addressing the situation. 

“This is not a school endorsed event,” Cook said in the email. “Safety and learning remain our priority. Any student that participates is expected to return to their scheduled school day without disruption.”