In the searing 90-degree heat, sophomore Nadia Buer, with a megaphone in one hand and a sign in the other, demanded the return of her teachers.
“The displacement is completely unfair because we deserve to learn,” Buer said. “We students must band together in a peaceful protest and we are willing to do what it takes to get them back.”
About 150 protesters, led by juniors Delilah Trujillo and Sebastian Olfatmanesh, walked out of Daniel Pearl Magnet High School (DPMHS) at 3 p.m. on Sept. 23. Students left their period six classes and walked to Los Angeles Unified School District’s (LAUSD) Region North offices on Balboa Boulevard. Students protested for the reinstatement of the recently displaced music teacher Wes Hambright and Spanish teacher Glenda Hurtado. Due to this year’s low enrollment, the school’s budget was cut, affecting staffing positions.
“I absolutely love Hambright and he’s the reason I came to this school,” Olfatmanesh said. “I don’t see DPMHS existing without Hurtado or Hambright here. I feel so devastated and upset because they meant the world to me.”
Since Sept. 18, the day students learned of the displacement, students like Trujillo, Olfatmanesh and other coordinators planned and arranged the walkout by hosting meetings in Room 14. Students made armbands and wore red and white, signifying peace and education, to silently protest. They also designed signs and chants for the walkout.
Today, during lunch, Principal Armen Petrossian offered the multi-purpose room as an outlet for student voices and to serve as a safe space for discussion. No one attended.
“I was the person who suggested armbands,” senior Lilli Miscione said. “I’ve been trying to do everything I can. I want to go into a music career and I have a deep passion for it. Finding out that they had displaced Hambright meant that my future was in jeopardy. Not having a teacher to help me learn what I need to learn is bad if I want to pursue that career.”
The protest called for more funding, no online school, to save the closed departments and to reinstate the teachers. United Teachers Los Angeles (UTLA) joined the protest after school and supplied megaphones. Parents also attended the protest, bringing water and their own signs.
“I think it’s a huge blow to our little school to not have music or language arts,” Havah Jaffe, a parent, said. “It would deprive the students that come here of a well-rounded education and it’s going to lead to lower and lower attendance.”
To show their support, former teachers and alumni of the school showed up to join the protest. Former student Alejandra Iniguez joined the rally to express her gratitude for both teachers from the past.
“I had Ms. Hurtado for Spanish speakers,” Iniguez said. “She actually inspired me to become a Spanish teacher. Her way of teaching and being passionate about what she does made me want to pursue a career in Spanish. I feel like it’s unfair that the district displaced them because they’re such good teachers.”
Today, during period 4, students were notified that Hambright was reinstated as the music department teacher.
“The first concert of the year is going to be extra special because of this,” Hambright said. “I think the students are extra-fired up so the plans are to get the show going and make the best show we’ve ever done. Hopefully we can make some differences in (Hurtado’s) position.”
However, with Hurtado still being displaced, students have called for the reinstatement of both teachers.
“I’m so overwhelmed by the amount of support being given to me and Hambright,” Hurtado said. “The decisions of the district are based on the students and I’m so proud of the students for their efforts and for their support.”
To avoid conflict of interest, our advisor Adriana Chavira is not reviewing or editing any of the stories before they are published.
Chris McAdamis • Sep 25, 2024 at 5:50 pm
LAUSD continues to flush taxpayer money down the toilet by keeping Armen Petrossian as principal. This man has never organized an Open House event to attract prospective students. He could not be bothered to leverage an engaging social media campaign to promote the school. In fact, as his failed attempt to suspend the journalism advisor shows, his only talent lies in destroying anything that makes this small school stand out. Now, he has let a great Spanish teacher go and has been forced to be saved from his own ineptitude by students pressuring him to reinstate Mr. Hambright.
His massive unpopularity among the student body and faculty is no secret. His utter indifference in dealing with both parties is astounding. Clearly, hanging about for an administrator-level salary until he retires is his one true priority. As the results of his tenure prove, DPMHS will be driven into the ground as Mr. Petrossian shrugs and fails to be a true leader.
Rikka D. • Sep 26, 2024 at 11:25 pm
preach sir
Ana Hernandez • Sep 23, 2024 at 9:48 pm
When I heard that Wes Hambright and Glenda Hurtado were displaced, I was shocked and heartbroken. Ms. Hurtado was one of the first teachers to welcome me to DPMHS with open arms. She was my Spanish 2 teacher during my junior year. Her passion of teaching is what makes this school unique. Displacing two essential teachers is one of the most consequential decisions that Principal Petrossian has made for DPMHS. The student enrollment will continue to decrease or even worse, having DPMHS close permanently. How are students going to fulfill their A-G requirements if they have to use online learning platforms and their morale is down? I am concerned for the students’ mental and academic wellbeing. After what he did to Ms. Chavira two years ago, Principal Petrossian needs to resign immediately. On behalf of the Class of 2013, bring them back!