CHS Students Walk Out, Face Disciplinary Action

Update: (2:23 p.m.) Following statements were released:

Michael Drewniak, Press Secretary for Gov. Chris Christie:

"First, students belong in the classroom, and we hope all efforts were made to curtail student walkouts. It is also our firm hope that the students were motivated by youthful rebellion or spring fever - and not by encouragement from any one-sided view of the current budget crisis in New Jersey. Students would be better served if they were given a full, impartial understanding of the problems that got us here in the first place and why dramatic action was needed."

Department of Education Commissioner Bret Schundler:

"Schools should enforce their attendance policies. They should not be permitting students to walk out of class."

(1:03 p.m.) Just after 10 a.m., four students walked out of the Montrose School, where the district's Alternative High School Program is conducted, holding signs protesting the budget cuts. They returned to school before noon.

Despite the knowledge that they would suffer a "cut" and would serve Saturday detention, a few hundred students had walked out of Columbia High School by 9:30 a.m. Tuesday morning to stage a protest of the hundreds of millions in cuts made to education funding by Gov. Chris Christie.

Makiyah Faison said she wanted to support the protest despite the fact that she is a graduating senior. Faison cited her younger brothers and sisters as examples. "If I don't care, who will? My brothers and sisters deserve the opportunity I've had."

Gabe Norstein attended school this morning in a suit and tie. "I'm not just some random high schooler trying to get out of school. I wanted to look professional," said Norstein.

Nate Kearney, a sophomore, echoed many of his peers, telling Patch: "I think it's time for students to take a stand. The future starts with us. Cutting our budget means cutting our future. We're the ones who will be making the difference."

Emma Wolin, who sent out an e-mail alert to students and media yesterday afternoon, held a sign declaring that students were not drug mules. "Christie called students the teacher union's drug mules. But I'm here of my own will."

But in this budget crisis, what's the solution?

Dylan Reichman, sophomore, had an answer: "If you look at people making $400,000 or more and continue that tax, that would have been enough to cover the cuts to education. Raise the revenue on the rich. It's education that matters. We are the future of this state."