Our Students’ Voices

 Intern Blog

Our interns’ first-hand accounts of the issues public school students face today. This space is for students’ voices, personal experiences, and grievances about the public school system to be heard. Read their takes on class sizes, teacher diversity, mental health programs and so much more!

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Dream Funding Rotation 

Lynda talks about the lack of harm reduction at universities. Too often, we hear stories of parties gone wrong and young people lost too early.

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My First Generation Experience

Marlenne tells us the story of her experience as a first-generation student and urges us to reform Prop 13 to support marginalized students with specialized needs.

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Bootstrapping in Public Education

Natalie talks about bootstrapping in public education. Time and time again, teachers work on and off the clock, and are not compensated for their efforts. Teachers deserve to be compensated now.

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The Difference A Lunch Makes

Alex recounts times of hardship and how free lunch programs could have alleviated stress for her and her family.

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Education is Magic

Alex talks about her elementary school experience with a teacher who changed her life.

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Public vs Private: The Fight for an Equitable School System

There is a huge gap in funding between public and private schools in California due to the way Proposition 13 changed the way our schools are funded. If we want to accurately compare public and private schools, we can’t cherry pick data. Public school students deserve just as many resources and support as anyone else.

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Trump is Stomping all over the Central Valley

Former Evolve Intern Neftaly describes her experience returning to her home of the Central Valley as a substitute teacher after college. She details how, on top of prior disinvestment, the Trump Era budget cuts are harming the Valley more than most.

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Underfunded ESL Programs

Morsal talks about her experience as an after-school program worker, where she came face to face with the reality of underfunding in the California public school system.

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Beyond Performative Diversity in Queer Spaces

As Jules finishes her last semester at UC Berkeley, she's reflected on the queer spaces on campus where although they have found community here, she still believes the UC can do more to make BIPOC feel more accepted; especially in a time where queer identities are being under attacked.

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Funding: An Arts School Drama

X talks about their experience attending Oakland School of the Arts, a charter school which struggled to be fully-funded and often depends on the generosity of high-profile donors. When the money dries up, where does it leave the students?

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After School Issues

Morsal talks about her experience as an After School Program worker, where she came face to face with the reality of underfunding in the California public school system.

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We NEED Diversity in the UC

Jules talks about how affirmative action paved the way for her mother to attend UC Berkeley, and ultimately empowered her to do the same. We need race-conscious admissions in the UC to ensure our universities are equitable!

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