Students who have previously learned about racism through history classes, stop and learns and real-world experience will no longer have the option to take the Student Led Anti-Racism Movement (SLAM) class. Teacher of United States History, appreciation of film and SLAM, David Minhondo, may have his SLAM class taken off our course requests next year. Cutting this class would strip students of a transformative educational experience that extends beyond the classroom. The administration must find a way to keep SLAM as an elective class.
Unlike the SLAM club, the class meets three times a week and offers structured learning and discussions on critical social issues. Sophomore Molly Pipitone has participated in both the SLAM club and class. The SLAM club meets in Mr. Hirsh’s classroom while students listen to educational videos about racism and eat lunch.
“The club is just a couple of days; during lunch some weeks,” Pipitone said.
The SLAM course provides a deeper perspective on both historical and contemporary issues, helping students develop a better understanding of where discrimination stems from and how it has changed over history. Pipitone described the benefits of taking SLAM for more than one year.
“Juniors got a much stronger perspective on modern and past events to broaden their understanding and [have learned] how to be more mindful of anti-racism,” Pipitone said.
The number of students signing up for Mr. Minhondo’s class has been in decline, while the club has grown. Students who are not in both the club and the class do not get a full understanding. Beyond classroom discussions, the class includes powerful real-world involvement.
Students in the SLAM class visited San Quentin Rehabilitation Center, where they were given tours by prisoners and learned firsthand from them about their experience with racism. The class also attended a ropes course together for bonding. These hands-on learning opportunities cannot be easily replaced and create a close-knit community within the class, which overall improves the learning experience. The importance of this class extends beyond just those enrolled; it creates a culture of awareness towards racism.
The class offers a focused look at racism that differs in sophistication from other current offerings. Junior Milo Silverio is currently taking Advanced Placement (AP) African American Studies.
“AP African American Studies focuses more on the past and not on what’s going on in the present,” Silverio said.
Courses like SLAM encourage students to think critically about the world around them, helping them become more informed citizens and leaders. The skills learned in SLAM- communication, teamwork and social awareness- are valuable, shaping students far beyond their high school years. Despite students’ efforts to save the class, their attempts to convince administrators have been unsuccessful.
“A couple of the juniors in the class had a meeting with the principal [to try and save the SLAM class], but they’re having a hard time,” Pipitone said.
This resistance raises concerns about whether financial decisions are truly being made with student enrichment in mind. If budget cuts continue to target courses that offer unique learning experiences, what does that say about the school’s priorities? The loss of this class would be a loss for the entire school community. It’s time for the administration to listen to students and take action to preserve a course that has made a lasting impact on so many.
